Legal Internship - paid (Spring 2025)

The Tahirih Justice Center is a national, nonprofit organization that serves women, girls, and all immigrant survivors of gender-based violence. Our interdisciplinary, trauma-informed model of service combines free legal and social services with bridge-building policy advocacy and research-based training and education. Our programs efficiently and effectively leverage donated professional services from a vast network of attorneys, medical professionals, and other experts to serve as many immigrant survivors as possible. By amplifying the experiences of survivors in communities, courts, and Congress, Tahirih’s mission is to create a world in which all people share equal rights and live in safety and with dignity.[Learn more about Tahirih’s Values, including our Commitment to Anti-Racism.]

We specialize in the representation of immigrant survivors of domestic violence, trafficking, and other violent crimes who seek immigration relief under the Violence Against Women Act and the Trafficking Victims Protection Act, as well as of refugees fleeing gender-based persecution who seek protection under U.S. asylum laws. Our legal advocacy includes both direct service to individuals and broader efforts to transform policies, develop regulations, and set precedent so that systemic change will ensure the long-term protection of individuals from violence due to their gender. Our interns gain real life experience in client advocacy, case management, and trial preparation and conclude their internship with a deeper commitment to social justice.

Interns’ duties and responsibilities may include:

• Client communication: assist attorneys with client communications and interviewing prospective clients.
• Immigration court hearing preparation: assist attorneys with preparing for court hearings, such as with compiling trial binders, preparing requests for prosecutorial discretion, drafting and preparing motions, and observing court hearings if there is availability and interest.
• Asylum interview preparation: assist attorneys with preparing for asylum interviews at Arlington Asylum Office, such as collecting and compiling supplemental evidence, preparing filing submissions, and observing mock interview sessions with clients if there is availability and interest.
• Legal writing and research: with attorney supervision, draft legal documents such as client letters, client declarations, and briefs. Research country conditions for asylum, VAWA Special Immigrant Juvenile Status, and/or U visa/T visa cases.
• Administrative work: Process mail, maintain and update information in electronic case management systems and physical files.
• Opportunities may arise to participate in community outreach and/or advocacy work, if the intern is interested, but this would not be a major focus of the internship

Requirements

• Ability to complete 300 hours over the course of the semester
• Enrollment in law school, excellent research, writing and analytical skills, commitment to or interest in public interest law.
• Language skills highly desired but not required, particularly Spanish.
• Must work well independently and together with a team of attorneys, paralegals, and social service professionals.
• Must be detail-oriented, well-organized, responsible, personable, and comfortable working with diverse populations from a variety of backgrounds.
• Sensitivity to working with trauma survivors.
• Previous experience in immigration law, domestic violence, criminal law, or victims’ rights is helpful but not required.