Refugee Representation Bilingual Intern – Spring 2020 (Washington, D.C.)
Description
- Assist staff members in conducting Spanish telephonic screening and in-person intake interviews with potential asylum clients and drafting detailed interview-based reports with extensive country conditions documentation and legal analysis;
- Assist Human Rights First attorneys in drafting affidavits, briefs, and other legal documents for asylum seekers;
- Complete immigration forms for Human Rights First’s direct representation clients including family reunification petitions and green card applications when needed. Assist staff with legal research, preparation for trainings, meetings, special projects, and other events;
- Represent Human Rights First at various NGO and government liaison meetings with the Department of Homeland Security;
- Respond to requests for assistance from potential asylum seekers locally, as well as individuals in immigration detention centers nationwide;
- Help with the process of identifying, analyzing, and responding to legal or procedural changes that affect asylum seekers, including statutory changes, proposed regulations, and decisions from federal courts or the Board of Immigration Appeals;
- Assist staff with written and oral correspondence with existing clients, potential clients, interpreters, and others involved in the process of case screening, acceptance, and placement with law firms;
- Provide interpretation services in Spanish on as needed basis.
- Demonstrated interest in human rights, asylum, and immigration issues (experience in asylum and immigration issues preferred, but not required);
- Excellent writing and editing skills;
- Excellent communication skills;
- Excellent research abilities;
- Fluency in Spanish and ability to conduct both telephonic and in-person interview in Spanish;
- Ability to handle several tasks at once while working independently or as a member of a team;
- Compassion, empathy, and a sense of humor.
COMPENSATION: Unpaid
TIME COMMITMENT: Minimum 15 hours/week, maximum 30 hours/week. Internship will run until May 10, 2019.