Legal Internship- Detained Adult Program, Direct Representation

Description

Who We Are

The Capital Area Immigrants’ Rights (CAIR) Coalition is now Amica Center for Immigrant Rights (“Amica Center” for short). Click here to learn more about our new name. Since our founding in 1999, we have grown significantly and added new services to support immigrants in detention. Recently, Amica Center has outgrown our name, expanding beyond our initial services and geographic boundaries.

“Amica” is the Latin word for “friend,” and that echoes the way we approach what we do. Just as friends stand with one another, Amica Center stands with our clients to achieve the safety, stability, and opportunity we all deserve.

We are the only non-profit organization in the Washington, D.C. area that is exclusively focused on providing legal assistance to adult and child immigrants detained by the government in the Capital Region and beyond.

Position Summary

 The Amica Center for Immigrant Rights is seeking law students with a passion for public interest law and immigrants’ rights to be part of our internship program for the Detained Adult Program (DAP). The Detained Adult Program works with hundreds of adults from Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia communities who are detained by ICE, providing information, support, and legal representation. We provide trauma-sensitive, client-centered services, and deeply value our clients’ autonomy as they navigate the fundamentally inhumane immigration system. 

 We are currently accepting applications for Fall 2025. Our Spring Legal Internship Program asks for a commitment of 15-20 hours a week for 10 weeks, starting on or about September 2, 2025.

Applicants from historically underrepresented groups are encouraged to apply. If relevant, please discuss in your application how your background motivates your interest in this position or otherwise affects your career goals.

Internships are unpaid; however, Amica Center can assist students seeking internship credit or funding.

Scholarship Opportunity:

Amica Center for Immigrant Rights invites all prospective interns to apply for the Amica Center Scholarship for the Fall 2025 semester. Amica Center will distribute four $1,000 tax-free* scholarships to eligible interns for the primary purpose of educational and professional development. To learn more, please visit https://amicacenter.org/join-the-fight/careers-internships/.

*Scholarship funds are intended to be used to pay for tuition and fees required for enrollment or attendance at an educational institution, or for fees, books, supplies, and equipment required for courses at the institution. Scholarship recipients are advised to speak to a tax-expert and report the scholarship funds in their gross income to the IRS.

Remote Work:

To keep our internships accessible to all students regardless of geographic location, all Fall 2025 internships may be remote. We encourage applicants from local law schools and those from outside the D.C. area to apply. There is no requirement that interns conduct any in-person work during their internships, but interns may have the opportunity to appear in or observe court in person. There will be opportunities for in-office work, in-person meetings, and events with staff and fellow interns in compliance with Amica Center’s COVID-19 policies.

General Duties and Responsibilities:

Direct Rep Legal Interns working with the Detained Adult Program will have the opportunity to assist our staff in representing detained clients in their immigration proceedings. Examples of internship responsibilities may include, but are not limited to:

• Conducting legal research and writing in support of detained clients applying for relief before the immigration court; 
• Conducting individualized country conditions research and collection of primary evidence in support of detained clients applying for relief before the Immigration Court; 
• Assisting in the preparation and filing of applications for immigration relief; 
• Assisting with interpretation and translation, if possible; 
• Communicating with clients and their family members via telephone; 
• Attending court hearings and/or visiting clients in detention 
• Client service and communication
• Evidence collection and assessment

Amica Center is committed to ensuring that interns are able to work on a wide array of tasks and legal matters within the scope of Amica Center’s work. 

APPLICATION PROCESS:

To be considered for the internship, please fill out the application link below and attach the following materials in .pdf format to your Paylocity application.

• A cover letter indicating your interest in the position. Please describe what experiences, personal and professional, have motivated you to apply.
• A resume;
• At least 2 references; and
• A writing sample. In addition to legal memoranda and briefs, research papers and articles are accepted. Only one writing sample is required and preferred.

Please apply to ONLY ONE department within Amica Center. For example, if you apply for this internship with the Immigration Impact Lab, please do not also apply for an internship with the Detained Adult Program. Please choose the department that best matches your preference, skills, and experience.

DEADLINE TO APPLY: Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Internship application will be open until July 25, 2025.

Requirements

Qualifications:

• Currently enrolled in law school;
• Ability to commit 15-20 hours a week;
• Strong interest in human rights, social justice, and immigration rights issues;
• Excellent research and writing skills;
• Ability to work independently and within a team;
• Intellectually curious;
• Willingness to work with individuals from low-income communities who might have criminal histories and/or mental health illnesses
• Fluency in Spanish or a second language is strongly preferred. 

Required Resources:

• A laptop or computer (*);
• Reliable internet; and
• A phone

*Amica Center may be able to provide access to a temporary laptop as needed.