Children's Legal Intern – New York (Unpaid)

About the role

The International Rescue Committee’s Children’s Legal Services program in New York seeks a motivated legal intern to support unaccompanied children navigating the U.S. immigration system. This unpaid, on‑site internship offers hands‑on exposure to immigration law, family court procedures, and trauma‑informed client work.

Key responsibilities

• Participate in client meetings to build rapport with young clients.
• Provide administrative support: monitor court dates, communicate with clients, prepare applications, draft supporting documents, and file with agencies.
• Conduct research on immigration issues, country conditions, and related legal topics.
• Attend online immigration law trainings and webinars.
• Coordinate with other IRC NY programs to secure additional resources such as educational support.

Required profile

• Enrolled in and have completed 1L at an ABA‑accredited law school.
• Demonstrated passion for working with children and low‑to‑moderate‑income immigrant populations.
• Proficiency in Spanish is strongly preferred.

Required skills

What we offer

• Unpaid internship with direct mentorship from experienced immigration attorneys.
• Learning exposure to immigration processes, trauma‑informed practice, and New York family court procedures.
• Opportunity to develop client‑service, problem‑solving, and intercultural social work skills.