NWIRP Summer Legal Internship- Seattle

SUMMER LEGAL INTERNSHIP 2
SUMMER LEGAL INTERNSHIP 2021
LAW STUDENT INTERNSHIP
SEATTLE, WA
REMOTE
UNPAID
H T T P S : / / W W W . N W I R P . O R G / J O I N - U S / J O B S - I N T E R N S H I P S /

OVERVIEW:

Northwest Immigrant Rights Project (NWIRP) is the only nonprofit organization providing comprehensive immigration legal services to immigrants with low income across Washington State. NWIRP promotes justice by defending and advancing the rights of immigrants through direct legal services, systemic advocacy, and community education. At NWIRP, law students will gain exposure to immigration law and have the opportunity to improve their legal writing and research skills in a fast-paced environment.

Northwest Immigrant Rights Project is seeking law student applications for full-time summer internship positions in its Seattle office. Legal interns will be asked to commit at least 35 hours per week for these virtual internships. The internships are unpaid, but NWIRP will work with applicants to secure outside funding or academic credit when possible. We currently have availability for 1-2 interns per unit listed below

A first round of consideration will be given to applications received by Friday, February 5th. However, all applications will be considered on a rolling basis, until the positions are filled.

COMMITMENT TO INCLUSIVITY, EQUITY, AND REPRESENTATION

Northwest Immigrant Rights Project is an equal opportunity employer committed to having a diverse staff, board, and Intern base reflective of the communities we serve and that enhances our ability to create a vibrant environment where all members of the NWIRP community thrive. We strongly encourage applications from individuals who identify as Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC), immigrants (including people who were formerly detained, undocumented, or who have navigated the immigration legal system), women, people with disabilities, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and individuals with diverse cultural backgrounds and language abilities.
It is the policy of NWIRP to comply with all applicable federal, state, and local laws prohibiting employment discrimination. NWIRP is committed to providing a work environment free from discrimination and harassment. NWIRP does not discriminate on the basis of class, race, color, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, political ideology, age, creed, religion, ancestry, national origin, or the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability. Excepting any undue hardship, NWIRP will provide reasonable accommodations upon request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process. Please contact [email protected] for any accommodation requests.

INTERN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Under attorney supervision, interns will assist with case matters before the Immigration Court, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), and the Department of State consulates and embassies. Specific duties and responsibilities vary depending on office and unit placement. Generally, for all units, interns’ responsibilities may include:
● Identifying legal issues and potential forms of relief for immigrants;
● Drafting legal briefs in support of applications for relief;
● Preparing applications, motions, and other filings with immigration courts and agencies;
● Drafting client declarations and gathering evidence in support of applications;
● Appearing in immigration court proceedings;
● Conducting intakes with individuals;
● Participating in workshops and other community education and outreach events; and
● Performing various administrative tasks as needed

ELIGIBILITY – MULTIPLE POSITIONS AVAILABLE

The internship is open to first, second, and third year law students. Applicants should have excellent written and oral communication skills, an interest in immigration law, an ability to work in a diverse and fast-paced work environment, and a commitment to advancing and defending the legal rights of low-income immigrants and refugees. Applicants proficient in secondary languages are strongly preferred.

Position are available in the following units:
● Asylum Unit: Helps people who face persecution in their home countries in applying for asylum, and assists asylees and refugees in applying for permanent resident status and petitioning for their family. Interns would manage a caseload, work directly with clients, and assist with care preparation, including preparing legal briefs and evidence in support of claims. Interns may also have the opportunity to provide pro se assistance and appear in court.
● Children & Youth Advocacy Program (CYAP) Unit: Serves immigrant children and youth to regularize their immigration status. A large percentage of CYAP’s clients are unaccompanied children from Central America and Mexico who are in removal proceedings. Attorneys with CYAP maintain diverse caseloads and assist young people to apply for various forms of immigration relief, including Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS), asylum, U-visas, T-visas, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), and Adjustment of Status. CYAP attorneys also handle Washington state court proceedings related to a child’s eligibility for SIJS. Under the supervision of attorneys, an intern would manage a caseload, work directly with clients, assist with case preparation, and have the opportunity for court appearances in immigration or state court.
● Family Services (FSU) Unit: Promotes family unity and stability by assisting with family visa applications and waivers. FSU focuses on the following types of cases: family-based visa petitions, adjustment of status, consular processing, waivers of grounds of inadmissibility, permission to reapply for admission, removal of conditions on residence, and general removal defense. The intern, under the supervision of an attorney, would manage a caseload, work directly with clients, and assist with case preparation. The legal intern may have the opportunity for court appearances in immigration court.
● Naturalization Unit: Assists immigrants and refugees, particularly elderly and/or people with disabilities, as well as those with criminal convictions, obtain citizenship, including seeking disability waivers from the required English and civics tests.
● VAWA (Violence Against Women Act) Unit: Provides legal services to immigrant survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, trafficking, and other crimes. The VAWA Unit assists survivors in applying for immigration benefits including but not limited to U nonimmigrant visas, T nonimmigrant visas, VAWA Self Petitions and I-751 waivers based on domestic violence. The intern will help create packets to assist pro se clients in applying for various forms of VAWA related immigration relief. In creating these packets, interns will expand their knowledge on VAWA related immigration benefits available to survivors of domestic violence and other crimes. Under the supervision of attorneys, interns will also assist in filing VAWA related forms of immigration relief.
● Removal Defense Unit: Represents individuals in removal proceedings in Seattle court and defends those at risk of deportation. RDU maintains a diverse caseload and assists individuals in applying for various forms of relief, including asylum, cancellation of removal, waivers, and post-conviction relief. Our work also commonly involves issues at the intersection of criminal and immigration law. Under the supervision of an attorney, we are hopeful an intern will manage a caseload, work directly with clients, assist with case preparation, and have the opportunity to appear in immigration court.