Postgraduate Legal Fellow
Fully remote (U.S.-based). Eastern Time zone hours with flexibility on a case-by-case basis. Some U.S. travel required.
Postgraduate Legal Fellow
This is a one-year, full-time postgraduate legal fellowship opportunity that places recent law school graduates alongside IALDF's legal team to work on federal impact litigation, FOIA-based government accountability, and community education for Iranian Americans and asylum seekers. Fellows will gain hands-on experience in immigration and anti-discrimination law, while contributing to the continued development of an emerging civil rights organization.
Fully remote (U.S.-based). Eastern Time zone hours with flexibility on a case-by-case basis. Some U.S. travel required.
This fellowship is supported through external postgraduate fellowship funding. IALDF welcomes applicants who have already secured funding, as well as those who would like IALDF to serve as their host organization for programs such as Equal Justice Works, the Skadden Fellowship, or law school-sponsored postgraduate public interest fellowships. IALDF will work closely with selected candidates to develop competitive applications.
The Iranian American Legal Defense Fund (IALDF) is a Washington, DC-based nonprofit civil rights organization that defends the rights of Iranian Americans, Iranian immigrants, and asylum seekers. Through impact litigation, government accountability work, research, advocacy, and community education, IALDF challenges discriminatory policies and helps individuals and communities understand and assert their rights.
This is a one-year, full-time postgraduate legal fellowship opportunity that places recent law school graduates alongside IALDF's legal team to work on federal impact litigation, FOIA-based government accountability, and community education for Iranian Americans and asylum seekers. Fellows will gain hands-on experience in immigration and anti-discrimination law, while contributing to the continued development of an emerging civil rights organization.
- Working under the supervision of IALDF’s legal team of attorneys, fellows will contribute to IALDF's impact litigation, government accountability work, and community education. Responsibilities include:
- Conducting legal research and drafting memoranda, pleadings, motions, and briefs supporting IALDF's impact litigation and government accountability work on civil rights, immigration, anti-discrimination, and related matters.
- Assisting with intakes for IALDF's detention hotline by speaking directly over the phone to individuals in detention, including obtaining case information, identifying urgent needs, and assisting with referrals to appropriate legal service providers and pro bono counsel. Intake-related work may also require traveling with other IALDF legal team members to Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention facilities to conduct legal and pre-representational legal visits with detained individuals.
- Supporting case management for IALDF andco-counsel, including preparing declarations, gathering evidence, tracking deadlines, and note-taking in external meetings.
- Drafting habeas corpus petitions, motions for stays of removal, and supporting briefs in immigration detention and removal matters, and researching asylum, detention, third-country removal, and conditions-of-confinement issues, in coordination with co-counsel, partner legal nonprofit organizations, and pro bono attorneys. Monitoring and analyzing changes in federal immigration, visa, sanctions, and travel restriction policies and regulations affecting Iranian Americans and Iranian nationals.
- Developing and periodically updating Know Your Rights materials, helpful guides, and template filings and documents for community members and volunteer attorneys.
- Contributing to IALDF's policy and advocacy work, including public reports, fact sheets, and comments on proposed rules.
- Any other legal or related tasks, as assigned by relevant supervisors.
- Graduating third-year law student or recent J.D. or LL.M. graduate who will be admitted to, or sitting for, a U.S. bar exam before the fellowship begins, with a demonstrated interest in civil rights, immigration, or administrative or regulatory law.
- Commitment to immigrants' rights, civil rights, human rights, and/or public interest work, preferably with immigrant communities.
- Strong legal research, analytical, and writingskills.
- Fluency with Microsoft Office and other legal technology tools, as well as an interest in learning to use AI ethically and responsibly in legal work.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills and the ability to work collaboratively with clients, colleagues, and partners.
- Self-motivated, flexible, and eager to take on new responsibilities at a small, growing organization.
- Fluency or conversational proficiency in Farsi (Persian) is strongly preferred.
- Experience with federal litigation, FOIA, civil rights, immigration, or human rights work, including direct client representation, is preferred but not required.
This fellowship is supported through external postgraduate fellowship funding. IALDF welcomes applicants who have already secured funding, as well as those who would like IALDF to serve as their host organization for programs such as Equal Justice Works, the Skadden Fellowship, or law school-sponsored postgraduate public interest fellowships. IALDF will work closely with selected candidates to develop competitive applications.
Please send a cover letter, resume, and legal writing sample (no more than 30 pages) as a single PDF to info@ialdf.org with the subject line: "Legal Fellow Application – [First Name Last Name]".
Deadline: Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Candidates should apply as soon as practicable and in line with the funding deadlines of their law school's postgraduate fellowship program.
Cover Letter: Please include a cover letter, which should include the following information:
Fellowship Funding: Tell us whether you have secured postgraduate fellowship funding (indicate the source, amount, requirements, and whether any benefits are included) and/or which fellowship programs you intend to apply to with IALDF serving as your host organization.
Start Date: Share your preferred start date or period and its flexibility.
Location: State the city and state where you plan to be based during the fellowship. IALDF is a fully remote organization without a physical office; fellows generally work during Eastern Time hours, with flexibility on a case-by-case basis.
Interests: Describe which aspects of IALDF's work interest you the most and why.
This information helps us evaluate fit and plan around fellowship funding timelines.
IALDF is an equal opportunity employer. We value a team that reflects the communities we serve, and we strongly encourage people of all backgrounds to apply.