Volunteer Legal Intern Jobs in Silver Spring, MD

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world's largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you're a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world's largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you're a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people worldwide for a better future.
SCOPE OF CHILDREN'S LEGAL SERVICES LEGAL INTERN WORK: The Children's Legal Services (CLS) Legal Intern will support CLS attorneys in providing services to unaccompanied youth who entered the U.S. without a parent or legal guardian and who face deportation/removal in immigration court proceedings.
The legal intern will work under the supervision of CLS attorneys on specific projects to provide legal and factual research and analysis to support clients' applications for Asylum, Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS), and other humanitarian forms of relief such as T and U visa applications for survivors of human trafficking and other serious crimes. The legal intern will have an opportunity to assist attorneys in preparing for immigration court hearings and/or state court custody/guardianship proceedings relevant to Special Immigrant Juvenile Status. In addition, the legal intern will have direct client interactions to support clients with initial screenings, follow-up meetings, drafting their declarations, gathering and preparing other evidence relevant to their immigration applications. The intern will perform clerical and administrative duties to ensure client notes are current and files are organized and kept up to date.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Assist CLS attorneys in providing various client services including:

• Client interviews, follow-up meetings and client communications.

• Factual, Legal Research and Analysis. Intern will engage in fact-finding including country conditions factual research, legal research and analysis of client cases.

• Preparation of Testimony. Intern may assist client with initial drafting of their personal declarations and other personal fact-finding relevant to their immigration applications.

• Draft immigration applications and legal cover letters/briefs and court motions.

• Assist staff with monitoring status of clients' immigration court removal proceedings

• Record client notes in case management system and assist legal staff with sorting, scanning and filing documents in case files.

• Adhere to IRC policies, particularly those related to confidentiality and client privacy.

• Display sensitivity to cultural and personality differences of clients. Respect their beliefs and values.

• Other related duties as assigned.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

• Intern will learn about U.S. immigration law in the context of unaccompanied minors and youth.

• Intern will develop problem solving and client services skills

• Intern will learn how to manage client cases within established deadlines

REQUIREMENTS:

• Minimum 15 hours or up to 37.5 per week; preference for those that can work 37.5 hours.

• Must be currently enrolled in an accredited JD or LLM program.

• Spanish language proficiency is a plus but is not required.

• Strong desire to help immigrant youth in Maryland

• Ability to work independently, exercise good judgment, and have high attention to detail.

• Competency in Microsoft Office, data tracking, and file management

• Effective communication skills.

• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a multicultural environment.

• Patience, understanding, flexibility, and a positive attitude.

• Willingness to learn about IRC history, philosophy, global work, and local efforts.

• Adherence to IRC code of conduct, volunteer and workplace policies

This position reports to the Managing Attorney or Senior Staff Attorney.
Position Details

• IN-PERSON: Fall2026 internships will be hybrid. This includes a combination of standard office environment, remote work, and field time within the greater Baltimore area. Intern must be in person on Tuesday Thursday (9 AM - 2 PM) and Friday (9 AM - 3 PM).

• DATES: Internships start with a required orientation on Monday, September 14th (approx. 9:30 AM - 3 PM). Regular weekly hours start the week of September 14th, 2026, and will continue through December 18th, 2026 (14 total weeks).

• HOURS: Internships require a minimum of 15 hours per week for 14 weeks. Interns should be able to come to the office at least 3 days per week.

• LAPTOP: Interns will be issued an IRC laptop for the duration of the internship to perform both remote and in-office responsibilities.

• REIMBURSEMENT: Internships with the IRC in Baltimore are unpaid. University credit may be arranged. Fall 2026 interns are eligible for per diem reimbursement at the rate of $15 per day (defined as 7.5 hours) to offset the costs of food and travel of the internship. Interns may also be reimbursed for mileage driven for any approved activities (based on round-trip mileage from the IRC office).

Application Process

• DUE DATE: apply online at careers.rescue.org by 11:59 PM ET on Sunday, August 30th.

• INTERVIEWS: Applicants selected for interviews will be contacted to schedule interviews beginning August 2026. Due to the volume of applications, only applicants who are selected for interviews will be contacted. Interviews will be conducted approximately August 4th through August 20th, 2026.

• OFFERS: Applicants who have interviewed for positions can expect to receive a decision no later than August 25th, 2026. Confirmations will be due at the latest by August 27th, 2026.

This is an unpaid position and is not eligible for benefits.
Standard of Professional Conduct: The IRC and the IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way - our Code of Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Accountability, and Equality.
Cookies: https://careers.rescue.org/us/en/cookiesettings
US Benefits for Regular Employees: We offer a comprehensive and highly competitive set of benefits. In the US, these include: 10 sick days, 10 US holidays, 20-25 paid time off days depending on role and tenure, medical insurance starting at $143 per month, dental starting at $6.50 per month, and vision starting at $5 per month, FSA for healthcare and commuter costs, a 403b retirement savings plans with immediately vested matching, disability & life insurance, and an Employee Assistance Program which is available to our staff and their families to support counseling and care in times of crisis and mental health struggles.
Equal Opportunity Employer: IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.
PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS
All International Rescue Committee workers must adhere to the core values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. Our Standards are Integrity, Service, Equality and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Safeguarding, Conflicts of Interest, Fiscal Integrity, and Reporting Wrongdoing and Protection from Retaliation. IRC is committed to take all necessary preventive measures and create an environment where people feel safe, and to take all necessary actions and corrective measures when harm occurs. IRC builds teams of professionals who promote critical reflection, power sharing, debate, and objectivity to deliver the best possible services to our clients.
Cookies: https://careers.rescue.org/us/en/cookiesettings
US Benefits: We offer a comprehensive and highly competitive set of benefits. In the US, these include: 10 sick days, 10 US holidays, 20-25 paid time off days depending on role and tenure, medical insurance starting at $163 per month, dental starting at $6.50 per month, and vision starting at $5 per month, FSA for healthcare and commuter costs, a 403b retirement savings plans with immediately vested matching, disability & life insurance, and an Employee Assistance Program which is available to our staff and their families to support counseling and care in times of crisis and mental health struggles.
Equal Opportunity Employer: IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.