Immigration Legal Services Spring Intern

SCOPE OF WORK: 

The IRC in Tucson is a DOJ Recognized organization offering comprehensive, affordable legal services to refugees and other noncitizens through its Immigration Legal Services department for nearly two decades. Currently, we are providing pro bono representation to displaced Afghan citizens. Immigration Services Interns work with the Immigration Legal Services Senior Staff Attorney and DOJ-Accredited Representative to directly assist clients with the filing of applications for family reunification, lawful permanent residence, and other immigration petitions. Interns can expect to engage in advocacy before administrative bodies such as the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and U.S. Department of State.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

·Set-up and conduct intake and immigration interviews with assistance from an interpreter and immigration staff.

• Prepare and complete immigration applications and petitions on behalf of refugees, asylees, and other non-citizens for submission to USCIS.
• Resolve complex eligibility and evidentiary issues by researching agency regulations and policies and collaborating with applicants to collect evidence necessary to satisfy the applicable legal standard.
• Draft persuasive declarations of clients and third parties to support applications submitted to USCIS.
• Identify and resolve case processing issues by completing case inquiries and service requests.
• Maintain meticulous case files by following protocols for digital and hard file management and recording case notes in our immigration case management database.
• Conduct community outreach to refugee and immigrant population.
• Assist with projects and administrative duties as assigned by the Senior Staff Attorney and DOJ-Accredited Representative.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: 

Learning outcomes will be contingent upon the goals of the intern. However, at minimum, interns will develop skills in client counseling, issue spotting, legal research, preparing immigration applications, and performing fundamental law firm processes.

REQUIREMENTS:

• Enrollment in a J.D. program at an ABA accredited law school or graduate program in legal studies is preferred, but applicants enrolled in an undergraduate paralegal program will be considered.
• Strong desire to learn about refugee resettlement and immigration issues.
• Commitment to learning and strictly adhering to ethical rules and best practices.
• Ability to work independently while also exercising good judgment in elevating issues to supervisors.
• Proficiency in Spanish, Dari, Farsi, or Pashto is preferred, but not required.
• Excellent time management skills, organized and attentive to detail.
• Strong intercultural communication skills; demonstrated ability to work effectively with people from other cultural backgrounds.

This position reports to the Senior Staff Attorney.

IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status or disability.