Summer Law Clerk - Immigration Legal Services

Summer Law Clerk – Paid Internship

The Michigan Immigrant Rights Center, a subdivision of the Michigan Advocacy Program (MAP), is seeking law students for the position of Summer Law Clerk (2026), based out of any of our five office locations - Kalamazoo, Grand Rapids, Lansing, Ypsilanti, or Detroit.

Are you a law student?

**** Legal experience is not – just a commitment to building a thriving Michigan where immigrant communities experience equity and belonging. Spanish proficiency of any level is a bonus. ****

MICHIGAN IMMIGRANT RIGHTS CENTER: MIRC provides direct legal services to immigrant clients focusing on survivors of domestic violence and victims of crime, unaccompanied children, individuals in detention and removal proceedings, migrant farm workers and immigrant workers, noncitizens applying for naturalization, and individuals seeking asylum, TPS, deferred action, and other forms of immigration relief. MIRC also provides technical and co‑counsel assistance and training to Michigan legal aid and pro‑bono attorneys handling immigration and immigrant rights matters, including the rights of unaccompanied children, immigrant workers, and survivors of crime and domestic violence.

MIRC conducts impact litigation, systemic advocacy, legislative and legal development tracking and analysis, and coalition‑building among statewide immigration assistance providers and advocacy organizations. MIRC hosts summer interns in Ypsilanti, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Lansing, and Detroit – and is happy to consider hybrid working.

Job Description:

Practice your Spanish language skills while gaining valuable experience in supporting low‑income immigrant communities.

Interns work under the supervision of our staff attorneys in all aspects of our work. Depending on the office and the job candidate’s background, an intern's work may include:

• Conducting client interviews
• Drafting pleadings
• Legal research
• Appearing in court hearings under the Michigan student practice rule
• Assessing legal problems
• Conveying legal advice through oral and written communication
• Conducting outreach to migrant labor camps
• Conducting educational seminars for clients and migrant agency staff
• Legal research and writing related to individual cases and broader policy issues
• Legislative tracking and analysis
• Other systemic advocacy projects in one or more areas of immigration law and immigrant worker rights law

Qualifications for all positions:
Applicants must reside in the state of Michigan while working for MAP. Spanish proficiency is preferred but not required.

Pay/Benefits: MIRC Summer Law Clerks will either receive pay via an hourly rate of $18/hour or a stipend of $6,500 for a 10‑week program at 35 hours/week. If you have other funding that is less than that, we will pay the difference. Our summer holidays (offices will be closed) are Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, and Labor Day. Hourly clerks do not earn vacation or paid holidays.

Students and casual employees will earn sick time pursuant to Michigan’s Earned Sick Time Act (“ESTA”). Under the ESTA, sick leave accrues at a rate of one hour for every 30 hours worked. Employees begin to accrue sick leave on their first calendar day of employment or their date of eligibility under the ESTA, whichever is later.

To apply:

Please complete this application and submit
1) your resume, and
2) a cover letter. You can also access the application by copying and pasting the following web address into your browser:  Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until all positions are filled.

The Michigan Advocacy Program is an equal opportunity employer, committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace.