Legal Fellow - 2027 Summer Fellowship Program

Who we are: BAL is a team of brilliant people who change lives through elite immigration work and collaborative innovation. We pursue the exceptional in all that we do, but never at the expense of our values. There’s no denying our work is demanding, both in volume and pace, but we’re up for the challenge. We love the balance of hard work and fun – so, you’ll see us in jeans as we shatter glass ceilings and conventional stereotypes. BAL employees feel valued, rewarded, and respected. We seek opportunities to be of service to others and our communities. We are committed to your growth and development and want to set you up for success here at BAL and beyond.

Who you are: You are looking for work that has a purpose. You aren’t afraid to roll up your sleeves and get stuff done. You learn quickly. You move fast. You embrace challenge and detail as well as creative thinking. You believe you have something unique to contribute and you aren’t afraid to raise your hand. You understand that powering human achievement is ultimately about impacting a real person. You are looking for a place to grow and an environment where everyone has a spot and is genuinely welcome.

We're better together: A bright, driven person like you and an industry-leading powerhouse like BAL? It’s a perfect combination! We truly want to see you succeed here and become an integral part of our mission to provide an experience that makes a positive difference in people’s lives. Come be a part of something special, where you can have an impact and be valued just for being you!

OVERVIEW:

Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP is seeking Summer Legal Fellows for a 9week program (June 7 - August 6, 2027) designed to develop future attorneys through structured training, meaningful legal work, and deep exposure to the firm’s culture, practice, and people. As a Summer Legal Fellow, you will gain hands on experience supporting client matters, receive dedicated mentorship from BAL attorneys and partners, and build the foundational skills needed to thrive in a fast paced, world class immigration practice.

Throughout the summer, Fellows will work closely with attorneys across the firm while participating in training, mentoring, and networking opportunities designed to accelerate their professional growth. By the end of the summer, Fellows will leave with valuable practical experience, lasting connections, and a firsthand understanding of what makes BAL unique.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Assist legal teams with drafting cases and written assignments.
• Conduct statutory, regulatory, and policy research and apply findings to real client matters.
• Observe client meetings, prep sessions, strategy discussions, and internal legal reviews.
• Complete training focused on immigration fundamentals, core professional skills, and BAL legal practice.
• Work closely with an Attorney Navigator and Partner Mentor for ongoing feedback, supervision, and development.
• Perform other duties as assigned to support legal teams and training exposure.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Current 2L law student enrolled in an accredited law school.
• You must be detail-oriented; able to prioritize and multi-task; and possess excellent communication, organization, and time-management skills.
• An interest in immigration law and a desire to build strong legal research, writing, and analytical skills.
• Prior immigration, government, and/or public policy experience is welcome but not required.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

• Able to sit and work at a computer keyboard for extended periods of time.
• Able to stoop, kneel, bend at the waist and reach daily.
• Able to perform general office administrative activities: copying, filing, delivering and using the telephone.
• Able to lift and move up to 25 pounds occasionally.
• Regular and on-time attendance.
• Must be able to prioritize, schedule and complete testing required for multiple applications with overlapping schedules.
• A certain degree of creativity and flexibility is required.

Note: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required and are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities or qualifications associated with this job.

Berry Appleman & Leiden is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is the policy of BAL to ensure an equal employment opportunity without discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, age, disability, alienage or citizenship status, marital status, creed, genetic predisposition or carrier status, sexual orientation or any other characteristic