General Program Information:
Immigrant Justice Corps (IJC) is the country’s first dedicated immigration representation fellowship program. IJC recruits the nation’s most talented law graduates and connects them with premier legal service institutions, to reduce the justice gap for immigrant families.
We are now expanding our fellowship offerings and are recruiting our inaugural class of Federal Litigation Fellows who will join the program in the fall of 2026. The Litigation Fellowship is designed to equip experienced removal defense attorneys with the skills, mentorship, and placements opportunities to move into federal litigation, creating a new generation of advocates prepared to challenge unlawful government actions, defend constitutional norms, and protect immigrant communities in federal court. IJC’s first cohort of Federal Litigation Fellows will be placed with Host Organizations with established federal litigation programs.
Federal Litigation Fellows
Federal Litigation Fellows will contribute to litigation efforts that protect immigrant communities, advance immigrant justice, and challenge systemic injustices in the immigration system. Their work may include:
Habeas Petitions
Petitions for Review
Mandamus Claims
FOIA Litigation
Administrative Procedure Act Claims
Impact Litigation
Federal Litigation Fellows will receive an annual salary of not less than $65,000 in Year 1 and $67,000 in Year 2. Please note: IJC may increase required minimum salaries before the launch of the Fellowship, and will inform selected Fellows and their associated Host Organizations placements when increased minimum salaries are approved.
Eligibility
The Federal Litigation Fellowship is open to graduating IJC Fellows and Alumni from the Class of 2024, Class of 2023, and Class of 2022. Litigation Fellows must be admitted to practice and in good standing in at least one U.S. state or the District of Columbia.
Recruiting from our IJC network ensures that Federal Litigation Fellows enter the program with a strong foundation in immigration law, client advocacy, and courtroom experience.
When setting up your account you will be asked to enter a name for your submission – PLEASE USE YOUR FULL NAME (LAST, FIRST) AS THE SUBMISSION TITLE.
Organization-Fellow Matching Process:
Selected finalists for Fellow candidates and selected Host Organizations will engage in a matching process during which finalist Fellow applicants and Host Organization applicants will receive information about each other and determine rankings of A, B, or C based on whether the Fellow/Host would rank the other as a top choice, a good choice, or a less desirable choice. We will also ask for overall rank-choice preference order. IJC will then make an offer to the Fellow finalist and Host Organization together, i.e. Jane Doe will go to Non-Profit X. The Fellow finalist and the prospective Host Organization will then have one week to tell IJC whether they accept the match or not. If either the Fellow finalist or the Host Organization finalist declines the match, there is no guarantee that another offer with a different Fellow/Host will be extended.
We believe that this matching process results in: (1) Host Organizations and Justice Fellows knowing their placement earlier in the year; (2) Host Organization finalists and Fellow finalists being able to speak with each other before making a final decision; (3) Fellow applicants being able to ask questions of current and prior Fellows about practice areas, supervision, and benefits before making a decision.
Fellow Selection Timeline:
IJC will convene a Selection Committee to review the Federal Litigation Fellowship applications. The Selection Committee is an integral part of the selection process and ensures IJC’s high standards of Fellow selection. IJC will interview Litigation Fellow candidates in mid June. Litigation Fellow and Host Organization finalists will engage in the matching process during July and IJC will extend offers to Fellows and Host Organizations by August 2026.
Litigation Fellows will join their Host Organization’s payroll on or before August 28, 2026, and commence active work with the organization in early September 2026, following an in-person Federal Litigation Fellowship launch week with IJC in New York City.
2026 Federal Litigation Fellowship
General Program Information:
Immigrant Justice Corps (IJC) is the country’s first dedicated immigration representation fellowship program. IJC recruits the nation’s most talented law graduates and connects them with premier legal service institutions, to reduce the justice gap for immigrant families.
We are now expanding our fellowship offerings and are recruiting our inaugural class of Federal Litigation Fellows who will join the program in the fall of 2026. The Litigation Fellowship is designed to equip experienced removal defense attorneys with the skills, mentorship, and placements opportunities to move into federal litigation, creating a new generation of advocates prepared to challenge unlawful government actions, defend constitutional norms, and protect immigrant communities in federal court. IJC’s first cohort of Federal Litigation Fellows will be placed with Host Organizations with established federal litigation programs.
Federal Litigation Fellows
Federal Litigation Fellows will contribute to litigation efforts that protect immigrant communities, advance immigrant justice, and challenge systemic injustices in the immigration system. Their work may include:
Habeas Petitions
Petitions for Review
Mandamus Claims
FOIA Litigation
Administrative Procedure Act Claims
Impact Litigation
Federal Litigation Fellows will receive an annual salary of not less than $65,000 in Year 1 and $67,000 in Year 2. Please note: IJC may increase required minimum salaries before the launch of the Fellowship, and will inform selected Fellows and their associated Host Organizations placements when increased minimum salaries are approved.
Eligibility
The Federal Litigation Fellowship is open to graduating IJC Fellows and Alumni from the Class of 2024, Class of 2023, and Class of 2022. Litigation Fellows must be admitted to practice and in good standing in at least one U.S. state or the District of Columbia.
Recruiting from our IJC network ensures that Federal Litigation Fellows enter the program with a strong foundation in immigration law, client advocacy, and courtroom experience.
When setting up your account you will be asked to enter a name for your submission – PLEASE USE YOUR FULL NAME (LAST, FIRST) AS THE SUBMISSION TITLE.
Organization-Fellow Matching Process:
Selected finalists for Fellow candidates and selected Host Organizations will engage in a matching process during which finalist Fellow applicants and Host Organization applicants will receive information about each other and determine rankings of A, B, or C based on whether the Fellow/Host would rank the other as a top choice, a good choice, or a less desirable choice. We will also ask for overall rank-choice preference order. IJC will then make an offer to the Fellow finalist and Host Organization together, i.e. Jane Doe will go to Non-Profit X. The Fellow finalist and the prospective Host Organization will then have one week to tell IJC whether they accept the match or not. If either the Fellow finalist or the Host Organization finalist declines the match, there is no guarantee that another offer with a different Fellow/Host will be extended.
We believe that this matching process results in: (1) Host Organizations and Justice Fellows knowing their placement earlier in the year; (2) Host Organization finalists and Fellow finalists being able to speak with each other before making a final decision; (3) Fellow applicants being able to ask questions of current and prior Fellows about practice areas, supervision, and benefits before making a decision.
Fellow Selection Timeline:
IJC will convene a Selection Committee to review the Federal Litigation Fellowship applications. The Selection Committee is an integral part of the selection process and ensures IJC’s high standards of Fellow selection. IJC will interview Litigation Fellow candidates in mid June. Litigation Fellow and Host Organization finalists will engage in the matching process during July and IJC will extend offers to Fellows and Host Organizations by August 2026.
Litigation Fellows will join their Host Organization’s payroll on or before August 28, 2026, and commence active work with the organization in early September 2026, following an in-person Federal Litigation Fellowship launch week with IJC in New York City.