Legal Intern - Beirut Office

About IRAP

The International Refugee Assistance Project (“IRAP”) is a dynamic and growing legal and policy advocacy organization that works to develop and enforce a system of legal and human rights for refugees and displaced people around the world. We are the leading organization providing free and comprehensive legal services to people in need of a safe place to live and a safe way to get there. 

IRAP operates offices in the U.S. (New York City, Washington, D.C.), Jordan (Amman), Lebanon (Beirut), and Germany (Berlin). Our legal teams work closely with a corps of pro bono lawyers from leading law firms and multi-national corporations, and law students who have created IRAP chapters across the United States and Canada. Through this work, we aim to assist refugees and other displaced people to find safe passage and to transform the landscape of refugee rights in the U.S. and internationally. IRAP has over 80 full-time staff members. We are a nimble organization staffed by an innovative and collaborative team that is committed to high standards of quality and close partnerships with our clients, peers, and colleagues.

The IRAP Lebanon Office is located in the capital city of Beirut. Our team consists of a Program and Operations Director, Office and Accounts Manager, Supervising Attorney, two Senior Staff Attorneys, a Casework Coordinator, and a Humanitarian Assistance Coordinator. IRAP Lebanon also hosts two Intake and Legal Information Caseworkers, the Director of Automation, Technology, and Analytics, and the Middle East Field Director. Our work is centered on providing remote and in-person legal assistance with refugee resettlement and family reunification through UNHCR referrals, U.S. refugee resettlement, domestic immigration remedies, and relocation through alternative pathways.

Opportunity

The IRAP Lebanon Office seeks to sponsor a law student who is participating in a formal law school program to intern remotely at IRAP during the summer 2021 period. The legal intern will be supervised by a Senior Staff Attorney within the IRAP Lebanon Office.  

This is an exciting opportunity for individuals interested in refugee, immigration, and international law, who seek direct experience with refugees. COVID-19 Note: This internship will be remote due to the COVID-19 situation in Lebanon. The Lebanon office works from Monday through Friday. Preference will be given to candidates who can work from 9 or 10am to 5 or 6pm Beirut local time. A minimum of 4 hours of overlap with the Beirut work day is required. 

Responsibilities

• Conducting interviews with refugees to determine needs and refugee claims
• Drafting legal briefs and memos in support of at-risk and vulnerable refugee cases
• Preparing legal submissions for cases submitted to UNHCR and foreign governments
• Researching law and global country and human rights conditions to reinforce claims
• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree (preferred)
• Pursuing an advanced degree in law (preferred)
• Interest in refugee law and/or processing, human rights, and international law
• Fluency in oral and written English; ability to speak Arabic is highly desired
• Strong research, writing, and analytical skills
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills; comfortable working with diverse populations
• Ability to commit to a minimum of 30 hours per week for at least 10 weeks over Summer 2021.

Application Instructions

Please submit a cover letter and resume and a list of three academic or professional references using the application form available here. 

We will review applications on a rolling basis.

IRAP believes that diversity is critical to fostering a strong workplace and serving our clients well. We strongly encourage applications from people with lived experiences in the communities that we serve, members of other marginalized communities, and individuals whose identities are underrepresented in the legal profession.

Compensation

Interns will receive a stipend of $2,000 for a full time (40 hours a week) 10 week internship, payable as $400 every two weeks. (The amount will be prorated based on the number of hours per week.)