Refugee and Immigrant Program Internship
Thank you for your interest in this internship. The Advocates for Human Rights will only review applications submitted through our online system. Please submit your application materials through our website here: http://www.theadvocatesforhumanrights.org/internships_fellowships
Location: Twin Cities Metro Salary: Unpaid Type: Internship
The Refugee and Immigrant Program welcomes undergraduate, graduate, law school students, and graduates to assist with client intake, translation, research and administration. Past and current interns have answered our client hotline and provided referrals as well as initial intake screening, assisted with client interviews and case administration, conducted country condition and legal research, translated documents, and in limited cases assisted with application preparation to support clients' asylum claims. Spanish speakers who are available on Tuesdays & Thursdays have the opportunity to assist in our detained representation work.
Intern tasks include:
- Answering the client phone hotline, providing referrals, conducting phone intakes for potential asylum clients, and communicating with current clients;
- Writing case summaries, including country conditions information;
- Drafting letters to clients and attorneys;
- Administrative duties such as filing, copying, mailing;
- Legal and human rights conditions research;
- Support for special events.
Desired qualifications/experience/interests:
- Attention to detail;
- Strong writing abilities;
- Ability to work both independently and with a group;
- Interest in refugees, immigrants and other new arrivals to Minnesota;
- Sensitivity to diverse cultures;
- Fluency in English;
- Proficiency in a second language. Most commonly used are: Spanish, French, Amharic, Somali;
- Experience or familiarity with immigration law (preferred for law students).
Time commitment:
- For fall and spring internship: 8-15 hours per week for a total of 3-4 months
- For summer internship: 20-40 hours per week for 8-10 weeks
- Minimum commitment of 160 hours for most internships (excepting January term or August)
Refugee & Immigrant Program internships are conducted entirely during business hours (8:30 - 5, M - F); we do not have off-site or weekend internship opportunities for this program. Due to the nature of the internship, we generally ask that interns be able to commit a 3 - 4 hour block of time in either the morning or afternoon.
If interested, apply through our website. https://www.theadvocatesforhumanrights.org/internships_fellowships
Application Deadlines:
Internships roughly correspond to the academic calendar. Interns and supervisors will arrange exact start/end dates.
Fall - September to December. Applications reviewed August 1-September 15 or until filled.
Winter/J-Term - mid-December to January. Applications reviewed November 1-December 15 or until filled.
Spring - January to May. Applications reviewed December 1-January 15 or until filled.
Summer - May to September. Applications reviewed March 1-April 15 or until filled.