Careers at AALDEF
AALDEF does precedent-setting litigation, advocacy, and policy work in the areas of economic justice for workers, immigrant rights, anti-trafficking, educational equity and youth rights, voting rights and redistricting, post-9/11 civil liberties issues, housing and environmental justice, and other major civil rights issues affecting Asian American communities.
Please check below for current job and internship openings. General volunteer and internship applications may be sent to info@aaldef.org. AALDEF is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer.
FALL 2012 VOTING RIGHTS INTERNSHIPS
Posted: May 3, 2012
Experience Level: Undergraduate, Graduate, and Law Students
Internships for the fall of 2012 are currently available in the following program area:
In prior elections, Asian Americans faced a series of barriers in exercising their right to vote. For example, poll workers were hostile and made racist remarks, poll sites had too few interpreters to assist Asian American voters, translated voting materials were missing or hidden from voters, and ballots were mistranslated listing Democratic candidates as Republicans, and vice versa. Then, when the news media reported on election returns and the vote by specific groups, Asian Americans were overlooked. AALDEF's Voting Rights Program aims to enhance the political participation of Asian Americans and guard against anti-Asian voter discrimination.
VOTING RIGHTS INTERNS work on the following:
Election monitoring to ensure that Asian Americans are treated fairly at the polls and to document violations of the Voting Rights Act and the federal Constitution. The Voting Rights Act mandates the availability of Chinese, Korean, and Bengali language assistance and forbids anti-Asian voter discrimination.
Work with pro bono lawyers at corporate law firms and volunteer law students to inspect poll sites for compliance with the Voting Rights Act and the Help America Vote Act.
Coordinate a survey of Asian American voters to document the use of bilingual ballots and report on Asian American voting patterns. The survey will be taken at several poll sites across the nation. Interns will recruit, train, and supervise volunteers, as well as coordinate logistics at three dozen polling locations.
Register new voters after citizenship swearing-in ceremonies.
Conduct research and advocacy on local, state, and federal election reform proposals.
DESCRIPTION OF FALL INTERNSHIPS:
Supervision: Interns are supervised by attorneys through regular meetings and trainings.
Compensation: These internships are not paid positions, but academic credit, college work-study, or a clinical placement can be arranged.
Hours: Interns work anywhere between 12 to 25 hours per week in the office.
Duration: The internship usually follows the semester, commencing with the start of classes (or end of August/beginning of September) and goes to the first or second week of December.
TO APPLY:
Bilingual ability is helpful but not required and languages (if any) should be stated in the resume. Applicants should also state the number of hours they are looking to contribute per week and a possible schedule. Send a resume and cover letter to:
Voting Rights Fall 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
Email: votingrights@aaldef.org
For more information, contact Chi-Ser Tran at 212-966-5932 or ctran@aaldef.org.
SUMMER 2012 LEGAL INTERNSHIPS
Posted: December 23, 2011
Experience Level: Law Students
Internships for the summer of 2012 are available in the following program areas:
Anti-Trafficking Initiative - legal research and writing 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 - legal research, advocacy and direct representation on behalf of Asian immigrant workers experiencing wage-and-hour, retaliation, and workplace safety violations in the restaurant, nail salon, domestic worker, and other low-wage industries.
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, 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.
Description of Summer Internship Program:
The summer program is ten weeks, from approximately June 4 through August 10. Interns work full-time and are supervised by attorneys in specific program areas. Interns will work on litigation, 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. 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, January 20, 2012 at the address below. Please indicate in your cover letter the top three program areas. Only law students qualify for AALDEF's legal internships. Applications may be faxed or emailed.
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 January 20, 2012 deadline. Interviewing will take place on a rolling basis. 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
For more information, contact:
Thomas Mariadason at 212-966-5932 x223 or tmariadason@aaldef.org
Jerry Vattamala at 212-966-5932 x209 or jvattamala@aaldef.org
**Please do NOT email applications to tmariadaon@aaldef.org or jvattamala@aaldef.org**
2012 SUMMER UNDERGRADUATE INTERNSHIPS
Posted: December 23, 2011
Experience Level: Undergraduate students
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. The summer program is ten (10) weeks, beginning approximately June 4th through August 10th. The position is unpaid. However, in previous years many AALDEF interns have been successful at securing independent funding and work-study funds may also be available. Academic credit can be arranged.
Voting Rights Intern: 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; help prepare for multi-state election monitoring of the 2012 Presidential Elections; conduct voter registration drives.
NJ - Asian American Legal Project Intern: Undergraduate interns gain valuable experience working alongside attorneys in NJ-AALP's advocacy efforts. Responsibilities include conducting community outreach, education, and direct-action organizing with Asian immigrant workers and community members in New Jersey; performing client intake and legal interpretation; and coordinating client referrals. Bilingual ability in Gujarati, Hindi, or Korean is highly preferred.
Youth Rights and Educational Equity Intern: Responsibilities include community outreach and presentations with Asian American youth groups, public education policy research, assistance with client intakes and general support for projects on educational equity, juvenile justice, affirmative action, and post 9-11 hate violence and racial targeting.
Housing & Environmental Justice Project: responsibilities include community outreach and research on land use, community planning, and anti-displacement issues.
Office Assistant: Responsibilities include data entry, organizing press clippings, answering phones, doing mailings, assisting with fundraising and other events, and performing general clerical duties. Other responsibilities include providing support for community education and outreach projects and acting as an interpreter/translator. Computer experience with databases, graphics and web programs is helpful.
Requirements: Candidates must be detail-oriented and possess strong writing skills. Spoken and written knowledge of Korean, Bangla, Chinese, or another Asian language is a plus.
Qualified applicants should indicate which internship they are applying for and send a resume and cover letter by Monday, February 6, 2011 to:
Summer Undergraduate Intern Search
Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund
99 Hudson Street, 12th floor
New York, New York 10013
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.