For the first time ever, the Immigrant Justice Corps is recruiting post-graduate fellows to work with immigration law in New York City! Brought to us by Sarah Deri Oshiro ’04, this opportunity is perfect for graduating seniors interested in working with law and immigrant populations.
Announced & Accepting Applications for 2014
The Immigrant Justice Corps (IJC) is the largest expansion of immigration legal services in New York City’s history and the first fellowship program in the country dedicated to the provision of high-quality immigration legal assistance. Inspired by Chief Judge Robert Katzmann of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, the IJC recruits talented new lawyers and college graduates from around the country and partners them with New York City’s leading non-profit legal services providers and community-based organizations to offer a broad range of immigration assistance, including naturalization, deportation defense, and applications for asylum seekers, juveniles, and victims of crime, domestic violence or human trafficking.
Beginning in 2014, the IJC will offer two types of fellowships annually: Justice Fellowships for recent law graduates and Community Fellowships for college graduates. Applications for 2014 Community Fellowships will be accepted on a rolling basis from April 1, 2014 until May 1, 2014. The application period for the Justice Fellowship has ended. For more information on eligibility for the Community Fellowship and program details, please see below.
Structure of the Community Fellowship Program
The IJC will award Community Fellowships to individuals who have graduated, or are graduating, from an undergraduate institution during the 2013-2014 academic year. We seek individuals from around the country with tremendous talent and promise and a commitment to serving immigrant communities. Community Fellows will be employees of the IJC, but will be placed in pairs in community-based organizations located in immigrant communities throughout New York City. Upon selection, fellows will have the opportunity to indicate their preferences as to their placement at a host organization, though the IJC will, ultimately, make placement decisions. At the outset of the fellowship, Community Fellows will participate in an
intensive multi-week training program to learn the basics of immigration law and to teach them to deliver a limited range of direct immigration services. Once in the field, Community Fellows will undertake intensive outreach and education in the communities they serve to alert individuals to their potential eligibility for various forms of immigration benefits and to the new services the IJC will be providing. Under the intensive supervision of experienced IJC attorney supervisors, Community Fellows will ultimately play a vital role in providing immigration screenings and helping individuals to apply for green cards, citizenship, and special protections
Community Fellowships last for two years. Each year of the fellowship, Fellows will receive an annual salary of $35,000. Benefits will also be covered by the IJC, along with loan repayment assistance. During the course of the fellowship, IJC will also assist Community Fellows in applying to become BIA Accredited Representatives, which are authorized to practice certain aspects of immigration law without a law degree. In addition to the intensive immigration law training program at the start of their fellowship, throughout the course of the two years, fellows will meet bi-weekly as a group for professional development activities, skills trainings, case sharing, reflection sessions and other programmatic activities organized by the IJC staff. At the end of the fellowship, the fellows will be extraordinarily well trained, deeply networked in the legal and immigrant rights community, and profoundly committed to developing creative strategies to fight poverty and ensure access to justice.
Eligibility & Application Process
In order to receive a 2014 Community Fellowship, which begins in September 2014, you must be a college student who is graduating or has graduated during the 2013-2014 academic year.
Applications are due by 11:59 p.m. on May 1, 2014 and must be submitted via the IJC website: www.justicecorps.org. Finalists will be interviewed in New York City or via video conference (for applicants who are unable to travel to New York City). Fellows will be informed of their selection in June 2014 and all other applicants will be notified once the selection
Applicants will be asked to submit:
• Three letters of recommendation, including at least one academic reference and at least one from a prior employer or someone who can speak to the quality of your work in a professional setting.
• A statement of interest no longer than 500 words describing why you would like to be a part of the IJC Community Fellowship Program. Questions to consider in drafting the Statement of Interest include: Why are you interested in immigration? How might an IJC Fellowship prepare you for the career you may want to have in the future?
Questions? More Information?
If you have questions or would like more information, please visit our website, which will provide more background on the IJC and an updated list of FAQs: www.justicecorps.org. If the FAQ page does not provide an answer to your question, please contact the IJC at: info@justicecorps.org. This email address will be checked daily.