The Syrian American Council's new Legal Affairs program is looking to hire a law school intern to work with us remotely for the Fall semester. The internship is open to second or third year students at a U.S. law school interested in the realms of accountability, human rights litigation, international law, immigration policy, and sanctions.
The Syrian American Council (SAC) is the leading grassroots Syrian-American organization advocating for freedom and a pluralistic democracy in Syria. SAC is based in Washington, DC and is a member of the American Coalition for Syria (ACS), a coalition of nine specialized, multi-faith, non-profit organizations that support a principled U.S. policy based on democratic reform, human rights, and accountability in Syria.
The Legal Affairs program at the Syrian American Council (SAC) takes a conglomerate approach to accountability and engages in legal advocacy on Syria-related accountability issues as well as immigration-related issues important to the Syrian American community. We are attacking these issues from different angles--for example, through U.S. litigation, policy proposals and advocacy, and working with international partners--and thus the work that you will do will depend greatly on our case needs and current projects at the time of your internship. You can expect that your work will involve legal research and writing, on both matters of domestic law and civil procedure and international and human rights law. Interns can also expect to receive feedback on their work product.
Responsibilities include:
- Conducting legal and policy research
- Drafting legal memoranda, a complaint, affidavits, and briefs
- Marshalling and analyzing evidence in litigation
- Researching prospects for new litigation, including both factual and legal claims
- Researching and synthesizing the legal frameworks for Syria sanctions and past U.S. designations
- Drafting policy memoranda and proposed legislative bills; analyzing existing legislative bills
- Drafting short briefs to help in preparing for meetings with the government
- Researching and drafting materials for public education or as community resources
- Engaging in special projects and other duties as assigned
Qualifications:
- Second or third year law student at a U.S. law school
- Excellent research skills, including conducting internet/database and case law research
- Excellent communication skills, both verbal and writing, and quick responsiveness
- Attention to detail and excellent cite-checking skills; law journal membership preferred but not required
- Excellent organizing and time-management skills; able to work diligently in a remote environment with minimal supervision
- Flexibility in working hours and work requests
- Familiarity with the Syrian conflict
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite
- Proficiency in reading Arabic desirable, but not required
- Commitment to the mission of SAC and ACS
- Commitment to working collaboratively and respectfully with all team members and toward resolving obstacles and/or conflicts
Internship Overview:
- This position is remote, although DMV-based interns have the option to work from our office in Washington, D.C..
- A modest stipend will be provided commensurate with the intern's time commitment. Alternatively, if the student wants to pursue academic credit for an externship with the Syrian American Council, instead of receiving our stipend, we will be happy to work with the intern's law school to sign any necessary paperwork and make sure any field placement requirements are met. Receiving academic credit for this internship depends on your law school's requirements.
- Time Commitment: Fall-semester internships require a part-time commitment of 10-20 hours per week.
- Duration: Fall-semester internships will extend from September - December. There is an opportunity to request to extend your internship through the Spring semester as well.
How to Apply: Please send a (1) cover letter, (2) resume, (3) ten-page legal writing sample (an excerpt is acceptable), and (4) law school transcript. Send the email to [email protected] with the subject "Legal Internship Application." Deadline is September 4, 2023, by 5:00 pm EST. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and accepted until the position is filled, so students are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.