2025 Spring Extern – Lucha Program

2025 Spring Extern – Lucha Program

Location: Florida

About Americans for Immigrant Justice (AI Justice):

Americans for Immigrant Justice (AI Justice), an award-winning not-for-profit legal services organization founded in 1996 to protect and promote the basic human rights of immigrants, has a multicultural and a multilingual staff. AI Justice has represented clients from around the world and is recognized as a powerful advocate and national leader for immigrants' rights. AI Justice works closely with traditional civil rights groups as well as grassroots organizations and local, state and national government officials to affect positive change in immigration policies.

About the Lucha Program

Founded in 1997, AI Justice’s Lucha Program provides free legal representation to immigrant survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking. The Lucha team confronts challenges faced by immigrant survivors through a combination of direct services and systemic advocacy. Lucha also plays a pivotal role in educating law enforcement and other government agencies at the local, state, and national levels about how to effectively support immigrant survivors of abuse and trafficking.

Spring 2025 Legal Externship Opportunities for the Lucha Program

Externs will have the opportunity to directly support the Lucha staff attorneys and clients by assisting with:

• Contacting potential clients for legal pre-screenings to determine eligibility for a legal consultation;
• Legal consultations under the supervision of an attorney;
• Gathering documentation and drafting personal statements on behalf of clients;
• Applications for relief such as VAWA Self-petitions, U-nonimmigrant status, T-nonimmigrant status, and any other immigration benefit for which a survivor may qualify;
• Preparing for legal proceedings, including before the immigration court and USCIS;
• Legal research and writing; and
• Know Your Rights presentations.

Qualifications

• Fluency in Spanish or Haitian Creole is preferred
• Currently enrolled at an accredited law school
• Must be willing to submit to an extensive background check, including FBI, statewide repository, and sex offender registry check

To Apply

E-mail your resume and cover letter to careers@aijustice.org and ajhernandez@aijustice.org with the subject line “2025 Lucha Spring Legal Extern.” Our office is located in Miami, Florida. Certain tasks such may require in-person appearance. Applications will be considered from all classes including 1Ls and will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the positions are filled. There is no monetary compensation, but academic credit may be available depending on the school the student is enrolled at. Those seeking externships must commit to a minimum of 20 hours a week.