Human Rights First’s Refugee and Immigrant Rights Policy team seeks to sponsor a law student or recent law school graduate as a legal fellow for a one- or two-year fellowship commencing in fall 2027. We seek current law student applicants who intend to apply for Equal Justice Works, or another privately-funded, one- or two-year public service fellowship. Applicants must graduate from law school no later than summer 2027.
Human Rights First is a nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy and action organization committed to defending human rights. Our Refugee and Immigrant Rights Policy team works to promote the protection of refugee, reform U.S. asylum law, policies and practices, address deficiencies in the U.S. resettlement system, and bring other U.S. immigration policies and practices into line with international refugee protection and human rights law standards.
MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
The fellow will work full-time to conduct legal, factual, and policy research and reporting, conduct policy analysis, and advance advocacy efforts to promote the protection of refugees and rights of immigrants. They will be supervised by and receive mentoring by the team’s senior research and policy counsel. Previous legal fellows with Human Rights First have had the opportunity to, among other things:
- Engage in advocacy on behalf of detained individuals seeking asylum
- Conduct research and advocacy on border policies impacting people seeking asylum and the detention of children and parents
- Research the barriers that asylum seekers with disabilities face in immigration court and before the asylum office
- Draft press releases, policy recommendations, and reports to advocate for systemic change of the asylum system, many of which have been reported in media outlets such as The Los Angeles Times, Washington Post and Buzzfeed News
Human Rights First is primarily interested in projects that will support our efforts to advance due process and address systemic impediments to access to asylum and access to counsel and fair proceedings during border processes, in immigration detention, and during adjudications, particularly given unlawful restrictions in place by current policies and practices, including forced third country transfers. There may also be an opportunity to support the Refugee Representation team with limited scope direct representation of asylum seekers, which would be supervised by an attorney on the Refugee Representation team.
REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND EXPERIENCE:
- A U.S. law degree (J.D.) by summer 2027
- Admission to a state bar or pending admission as of fall 2027
- Previous experience working with asylum-seekers or immigrants, through law school clinics, judicial clerkships, or legal internships
- Strong written and oral communication skills and a demonstrated ability to translate highly-technical material for a variety of audiences
- Ability to communicate patiently, respectfully, and empathetically with individuals from a variety of backgrounds
- Familiarity with U.S. immigration law and policy
- Ability to take initiative, manage numerous tasks simultaneously, work under pressure and meet deadlines, and identify and analyze legal issues
- Willingness to travel occasionally within the United States to conduct research on access to asylum and document the impact of U.S. asylum policies
- Fluency in Spanish is preferred, and fluency in another language, such as an Indigenous language of the Americas, Haitian Kreyol, or French, is desirable
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility Competencies (DEIA)
Human Rights First acknowledges the existence of systemic and structural biases and believes it is necessary to be strategic and intentional in pursuing diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility in all aspects of governance, operations, and programming. As an employee, you are expected to:
- Support adoption of best practices to create a more diverse, equitable, inclusive, and accessible work experience for colleagues and external partners
- Strive to consider the people, places, and cultures that might be missing from your work and look for opportunities to increase inclusivity in all the work you do
- Support the mission of Human Rights First in all interactions with colleagues and stakeholders
- Dedicate efforts to enriching DEIA consciousness throughout our office-wide interactions
- Foster a culture of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility by promoting adherence to the standards delineated in the Culture of Respect and Teamwork statement in the Employee Handbook
Position is remote but must be based near one of our Washington, D.C., New York City, or Los Angeles offices.
Salary Range $65,000 to $70,000.
