aaldef summer legal internship program 2010

Founded in 1974, the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund is a national organization that protects and promotes the civil rights of Asian Americans. By combining litigation, advocacy, education and organizing, AALDEF works with Asian American communities across the country to secure human rights for all. And they're looking for summer legal interns:

SUMMER LEGAL INTERNSHIP PROGRAM 2010

Internships for the summer of 2010 are available in the following program areas:

* Anti-Trafficking Initiative - legal research on the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act and Fair Labor Standards Act, as well as outreach, community education, and advocacy on the rights of women and youth trafficking survivors.
* Community Health Care Initiative - legal research, community education and outreach in the areas of immigration, government benefits, language rights, and health care access;
* Economic Justice for Workers - litigation on behalf of garment, restaurant, and other low wage workers;
* New Jersey - Asian American Legal Project - community outreach, education, and organizing with Asian immigrant workers in New Jersey; performing client intake and legal interpretation; managing workers' claims with government agencies; conducting legal research and writing, and administering community surveys with workers.
* Educational Equity and Youth Rights - legal services, policy work, community education, research and litigation concerning educational equity, juvenile justice, affirmative action and post 9-11 hate violence and racial targeting;
* Housing Justice Project - community outreach/education, community planning, research, and litigation on housing and land use issues affecting low-income Asian immigrant communities;
* Immigrant Access to Justice - litigation, legal services, and organizing/outreach with communities impacted by 9-11, including special interest detainees, special registration, racial profiling, voluntary FBI interviews, and local and state enforcement of immigration laws.
* Voting Rights - legal research and fact development under the Voting Rights Act and Equal Protection Clause challenging anti-Asian voter discrimination, advocacy on bilingual ballots, and state and local election reform; produce reports and organize public forums.
* Census 2010 - legal research on the confidentiality of census information and enforcement of civil rights law, conduct client intake to protect the anonymity of undocumented immigrants, conduct outreach and legal trainings.

Description of Summer Internship Program:
The summer program is ten weeks, from approximately June 7 through August 13. Interns work full-time and are supervised by attorneys in specific program areas. Interns will work on litigation, particularly legal research and writing, legal and policy advocacy, community outreach and education, and client intakes. Each program area differs in emphasis. Summer interns attend weekly brown bag lectures on a range of public interest legal topics along with interns from other legal defense funds and civil rights groups. AALDEF also provides trainings in housing law, naturalization procedures, and immigration law. The position is unpaid. However, in previous years many AALDEF interns have been successful at securing independent funding. Academic credit can be arranged.

To Apply:
Interested applicants should send a cover letter, resume, and writing sample to be received by AALDEF on or before Friday, February 8, 2010 at the address below. Please indicate the top three program areas on which you would be interested in focusing. Only law students qualify for AALDEF's legal internships. Fax or email applications are acceptable.

Any bilingual ability should be stated in the application. Bilingual ability is helpful but not required. Gujarati, Hindi, Khmer, Korean, and Urdu-speaking applicants are especially urged to apply.

Applications will be reviewed upon receipt until the February 8, 2010 deadline. Interviewing will take place in February and early March, however, some interviews may be conducted on a rolling basis prior to that time. Please note that only applicants who have been granted interviews will be notified of their advancement in the application process.

Summer Internship Search (Legal)
Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund
99 Hudson Street, 12th floor
New York, New York 10013-2815
Fax: 212-966-4303 Email: info@aaldef.org

More details at the AALDEF website. I know a lot of law students are reading this -- maybe this opportunity is for you. AALDEF could use your help. For further information, contact Bethany Li at 212-966-5932 x213 or bli@aaldef.org, or Alex Saingchin at 888-406-1555 x1 or asaingchin@aaldef.org. Please do not email applications to these addresses.