Call for Legal Fellowship Candidates

Brief Description

Immigrant Defenders Law Center (“ImmDef”) is a social justice law firm providing high-quality representation to immigrants in Southern California and beyond. Founded with the mission to ensure no immigrant faces an unjust immigration system alone, ImmDef supports this goal through its universal representation programs. Learn more at immdef.org.

Fellowship Programs

• Skadden Fellowship
• Equal Justice Works Fellowship
• Justice Catalyst Fellowship
• Soros Justice Fellowship

Selected Candidate Duties

• Provide high-quality, client-centered representation for clients in deportation proceedings.
• Engage in policy advocacy and strategic appellate and impact litigation.
• Serve migrants and asylum seekers at the U.S.-Mexico border, those detained in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) prisons, or non-detained adults and children facing deportation.
• Determine eligibility for legal relief and develop legal strategy case plans.
• Travel to shelters for unaccompanied children, ICE detention centers, and other custodial settings to interview and prepare clients, take declarations, complete immigration benefit applications, and provide legal advice.
• Represent individuals in court at initial or prolonged custody redetermination hearings, master calendar hearings, individual merits hearings, and in ancillary state court proceedings.
• Represent clients before USCIS at asylum interviews, credible fear interviews, ICE check-ins and other immigration-related appointments.
• Prepare and submit country conditions, declarations, and other supporting evidence for applications to defend clients against removal.
• Work with country conditions experts, expert witnesses, psychologists, and medical professionals to develop supporting evidence for immigration relief applications.
• Draft appellate briefs for submission to the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) or the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues and participate in weekly group case review, on-site trainings, and professional development opportunities.

Requirements

• Open to JD graduates of the class of 2026, those ending a clerkship, or those who otherwise meet the specific post-graduate fellowship criteria.
• Intent to sit for the bar exam of any state (preferably CA) prior to start of fellowship, or currently licensed in any U.S. jurisdiction.
• Experience (including internships) in the practice of law, preferably in immigration and/or social justice law.
• Experience and/or interest in the intersection of criminal and immigration law is a plus.
• Experience and/or interest in working with clients suffering from mental illness or disabilities is a plus.
• Strong case management, legal research, and legal writing skills required.
• Demonstrated ability and willingness to zealously pursue new and untested legal theories.
• Demonstrated ability to take initiative and work under pressure.
• Spanish language proficiency preferred but not required; fluency in additional languages, especially Haitian Kreyol or French, is a plus.
• Commitment to working in a diverse professional environment. Passion for social justice for immigrants required.

How to Apply

Applicants should submit a resume, cover letter (noting which fellowships the candidate is interested in applying for and which ImmDef program(s) the candidate would like to be placed in), writing sample (limited to 10 pages), and 3 references. Applicants should apply with ample time to collaborate on and submit a proposal to the desired fellowship organization or educational institution by the application deadline. Those seeking a fellowship that begins in Fall 2027 (e.g., Skadden or EJW) are encouraged to submit their application materials no later than July 22nd.

Summary

Compensation and Benefits will be set by the terms of the fellowship program. Fellowships are considered temporary positions, but are eligible for medical, vision, and dental benefits at ImmDef.