Summer Legal Intern Position Description

SEARAC seeks a Summer Legal Intern

Position Summary: SEARAC seeks a summer legal intern to assist in our anti-deportation work. Southeast Asian Americans are greatly affected by deportation provisions of current immigration laws. Thousands of legal permanent residents who arrived in the United States as refugees from Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam have orders of removal due to criminal convictions. SEARAC's work on deportation strives to restore discretion to immigration judges, allowing them to review and determine deportation cases on an individual basis as well as narrow the definition of “aggravated felony” to reflect proportionality and the American system of justice. SEARAC opposes the deportation of individuals who were admitted to the U.S. as refugees back to the countries they fled in fear of persecution and believes that deportation policies should take into consideration whether individuals will be exposed to human rights violations if deported.

The intern will work directly with SEARAC’s Director of Policy to advocate for the priorities listed above. This internship will not involve the direct legal representation of clients.

To qualify for an internship, the applicant must:

• Currently attend law school or have recently graduated
• Be able to write reports and research papers regarding immigration policy
• Have knowledge of and interest in immigration law and policy, especially regarding deportation of legal permanent residents as a result of criminal convictions
• Have knowledge of and interest in the Southeast Asian (Cambodian, Laotian, and Vietnamese) American community.

To apply, please submit:

• A résumé
• A statement of interest
• A short writing sample (10 pages maximum)
• 1 letter of recommendation (from a professor, employer, mentor, etc.)

Deadline to apply: March 12, 2012

Applicants have the option of submitting these materials in 1 of 3 ways:

• Via FAX: 202-667-6449;
• Via E-MAIL: to fam@searac.org; or
• Via MAIL (RECEIVED by due date)

To:

Southeast Asia Resource Action Center

Attn: Legal Intern Application

1628 16th Street NW

Washington, DC  20009