IRAP Litigation Fellow, Fall 2024 - Fall 2026

Opportunity

IRAP is seeking an attorney with no more than three years of legal experience after graduation from a U.S. law school to join our U.S. Litigation Department as a fellow for two years starting in fall 2024. This is an exciting opportunity for a law school graduate to gain exposure to public interest litigation and to IRAP’s work.

IRAP’s Litigation Department brings innovative court challenges in U.S. courts to address systemic issues affecting refugees, asylum seekers, and others in need of a safe home. The litigation team develops and litigates a range of cases in lead counsel capacity, including challenges under the U.S. Constitution, the Administrative Procedure Act, the Freedom of Information Act, and other federal statutes. Information about our current cases can be found at https://refugeerights.org/litigation/.

We urge interested candidates to apply as soon as possible. We will begin reviewing applications on a rolling basis on October 15, 2024.

Responsibilities

• Engage in all aspects of litigation and litigation-related advocacy under supervision, including case development and filing, legal and factual research, client counseling and interviews, motions practice, discovery, resource creation, policy advocacy, and media advocacy.
• Mentor and consult on litigation led by pro bono attorneys to whom IRAP has referred cases.
• Collaborate with IRAP staff members in other departments, including policy, legal services, and communications, to ensure that litigation is supporting and leveraging their work.
• Represent IRAP in externally facing relationships, including with other advocates, pro bono firms, media, and donors.
• Participate in tasks that support the organization, such as participating in cross-departmental task forces and providing feedback on organization-wide issues.

Qualifications

• Law degree and license to practice law in the U.S. state from which the candidate will perform work for the position. The candidate must have no more than three years of legal experience after graduation from a U.S. law school.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and meet urgent deadlines as needed.
• A foundation for readiness to counsel clients in a culturally sensitive and ethical manner; to identify, analyze, and research complex issues; to draft briefs and incorporate feedback; and to initiate and lead litigation, with appropriate support based on experience level.
• Commitment to teamwork and eagerness to support team members as needed.
• Commitment to centering displaced people and equity principles in our work. We encourage applications from attorneys with lived experience of displacement and/or marginalization.

Application: Please submit a resume, cover letter, and a writing sample (a legal memo, brief, or motion) that reflects your own work.

Location: The candidate will work in IRAP’s U.S. office in New York City, but remote work candidates will be considered.

Compensation

This role is paid on a step scale based on years of work experience and education. Compensation will be based on education, experience, and internal equity. The salary will be between $65,916 - $83,917. May be subject to a collective bargaining agreement.