The Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund, which protects and promotes the legal rights of Asian Americans through litigation, legal advocacy, and community education, is looking for some qualified undergraduate, graduate and law students. Spring internships are available in the following program areas (open to all unless otherwise noted):Economic Justice for Workers: Provide legal advocacy and direct representation on behalf of Asian immigrant workers experiencing wage-and-hour, retaliation, and workplace safety violations in the restaurant, beauty/nail salon, and domestic worker industries, among others. Undergraduate interns will perform research and community outreach.Interns are supervised by attorneys and/or AALDEF staff in specific program areas. These internships are not paid positions, but academic credit can be arranged. Interns work anywhere between 8 to 25 hours per week. Internships usually commence with the start of classes (end of January) through late April/early May.
New Jersey Asian American Legal Project: Community outreach, education, and legal services to Asian Americans in New Jersey, as well as community organizing and litigation on employment-related claims for Asian immigrant workers in New Jersey. Must have Gujarati or Korean language ability.
Educational Equity and Youth Rights: legal services, policy work, community education, research and litigation concerning educational equity, juvenile justice, language access, and anti-Asian harassment.
Housing & Environmental Justice Project: responsibilities include coordinating multi-city land use survey, community outreach, and general support for community planning and anti-displacement projects.
Immigrant Access to Justice: litigation, legal services, and organizing/outreach with communities impacted by 9-11, including special interest detainees, special registration, voluntary interviews by the government, the 9-11 absconder initiative, 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 the redrawing of local, state and federal district lines; produce reports and organize public forums; assist in organizing legal trainings.
Bilingual ability is helpful but not required. Applications should also state the number of hours the intern is able to work per week and which program area(s) you are interested in. Email applications are accepted.
The deadline to apply is December 1, 2011. Applications received after deadline will be considered on a rolling basis. Send a resume and cover letter (law students should include a writing sample) to:
AALDEF Spring Intern Search
Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF)
99 Hudson Street, 12th floor, New York, New York 10013-2815
Fax: 212-966-4303 or Email: info@aaldef.org
For more information, contact Jennifer Weng at 212-966-5932, ext. 212 or jweng@aaldef.org. Or visit the AALDEF website here.