Spring Legal Internship at the Organization for Refuge, Asylum and Migration

ORAM – Organization for Refuge, Asylum & Migration – is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping refugees worldwide who have been forced to flee their home countries due to persecution based on their sexual orientation, gender or gender identity. We provide free legal aid to refugees and help resettle and reintegrate them into safety. We work closely with United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to improve the adjudication of LGBTI claims for protection. ORAM also works to better educate not only the general public of the plight of LGBTI refugees, but to train and educate NGOs and institutions worldwide to develop the procedural conditions for LGBTI refugees. More information is available at www.oraminternational.org.

ORAM is seeking highly qualified and dedicated interns to perform a wide range of activities, including extensive research and writing on a variety of issues related to protection for persons fleeing persecution based on gender identity and sexual orientation. Participants will have the opportunity to work with the foremost human rights advocates in the international community as part of the world’s leading non-profit for LGBTI refugees. Interns will participate in the process of developing, researching, preparing, and generally supporting our advocacy projects.

Requirements

Law students, particularly those in their 2nd or 3rd year, are encouraged to apply. This position requires excellent research and writing skills, as well as the ability to work independently. Only applicants receiving academic credit for this internship will be considered. Interns will be required to work a minimum of 16 hours per week during the Spring 2012 semester. Each student will be assigned to a supervisor responsible for reviewing work done on her/his projects and providing feedback to students.

At the outset of the internship, each student will work with an ORAM staff member and his or her academic supervisor to prepare a description of the parameters and requirements of the internship. A finalized version will be submitted to the academic supervisor for purposes of grading and evaluation at the completion of the internship. ORAM’s evaluation of the participant’s performance will be based on reliability, as well as the quality of any research, analysis and writing completed.

To apply, please submit a cover letter, resume and legal writing sample to the ORAM Internship Coordinator at internship@oraminternational.org. All applications should be submitted electronically. Please note “Spring 2012 Legal Internship Application- DC” in the subject line of your e-mail. Applications will be evaluated on an ongoing basis until the positions are filled. No phone calls or walk-ins please.