Description
The IRC in Denver's Legal Program currently serves hundreds of clients annually with defense representation and asylum services before the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR), as well as affirmative representation before US Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) to pursue humanitarian visas, family reunification, employment authorization, adjustment of status, naturalization, and other immigration benefits.
The Immigration Legal Intern will support and assist attorneys and DOJ Accredited Representatives with client intake and enrollment, preparing and filing immigration applications and petitions, and maintaining contact with clients.
Responsibilities:
- Participate in comprehensive client intake and needs assessment under the supervision of IRC staff
- Manage appointments with clients, interpreters, and pro bono attorneys
- Assist clients to complete applications or petitions for various immigration benefits and prepare these for review by Immigration legal staff
- Assist with legal research and with drafting motions to submit before the immigration court under the supervision of an attorney or DOJ accredited representative
- Maintain accurate and up-to-date physical and electronic files with detailed case notes, enter data in a timely manner
- Assist in outreach efforts to let the community know about events and immigration services offered by IRC
- Other duties as needed and assigned by immigration program managers
Learning Objectives:
- The intern will gain professional experience providing technical assistance and programmatic support to the Denver IRC legal program
- The intern will gain a deep understanding of immigration law and policy, particularly as it pertains to refugees, asylees, and asylum-seekers in the US
- The intern will gain practical experience working in a fast-paced environment for a large NGO in a challenging policy environment for refugees and immigrants
Requirements:
- Current law students or recent graduates with interest or experience with immigration law
- Must have reliable work hours and able to commit to a minimum of 25 hours a week during IRC office hours
- Able to work independently and under pressure with multiple tasks and competing deadlines
- The ideal candidates are independent, detail-oriented, and highly organized
- Strong intercultural communication skills; demonstrated ability to work effectively with people from diverse backgrounds and across language barriers
- Ability to communicate effectively in English; additional fluency in one of the following languages is desirable, but not required: Arabic, Burmese, Dari, Pashto, Kinyarwanda, Kiswahili, French, Spanish
- Ability to handle sensitive client information confidentially
- Computer literacy, preferably with PC systems
- Applicants must be open to evolving responsibilities