Immigration Legal Internships - DC

The Immigration Unit hosts bilingual (Spanish/English) interns during the summer (full-time opportunities) and during the spring and fall semesters (part-time or full-time opportunities).

APPLY NOW! FALL 2013

Volunteer immigration attorney and/or law graduate - click here 

Immigration Intern

Ayuda’s Washington, DC office^* is currently accepting applications for part-time Fall 2013 internships, and will interview and accept applicants on a rolling basis. Positions are open to all applicants (law students, graduate students and undergraduate students, or individuals holding an undergraduate degree). Fall internships will last from late August through December, but start and end dates are flexible.  Interns must commit to working a part-time schedule of 15 hours per week: between the hours of 9am-5pm Monday through Friday. All internship positions are unpaid but Ayuda can work with you if you intend to obtain school credit or funding for your internship hours.

* Fall 2013 Immigration Internships are also available through Ayuda's Virginia office.

Immigration Intern Responsibilities:

• Communicating with clients from all over the world in Spanish and English, and in other languages through the use of interpreters
• Carrying active caseloads of immigration cases, under the supervision of experienced attorneys and paralegals
• Preparing filings to the US Citizenship and Immigration Services, including (but is not limited to) petitions for survivors of domestic violence (VAWA petitions), crime (U-visas) and human trafficking (T-visas), petitions for abandoned/unaccompanied minor immigrant children, political asylum applications, family reunifications petitions, adjustments of status to permanent residence, naturalization, Temporary Protected Status, work authorization, and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)
• Working closely with attorneys and paralegals in the preparation of cases for submission to the Immigration Court for clients in removal proceedings
• Coordinating all aspects of a client’s case, including client communication, relevant research, translation, drafting personal statements, preparing immigration forms, writing memos and briefs, drafting court motions and orders, and advocacy with law enforcement and other agencies
• Attending clients’ interviews with USCIS officers for immigration benefits, as an interpreter

Immigration Intern Qualifications:

• Applicants must be highly proficient or bilingual in Spanish and English (speaking, oral comprehension, reading and writing)
• Applicants who speak other languages (such as French, Amharic, or Thai), in addition to Spanish, are encouraged to apply
• Previous experience working in immigration law is helpful but not required
• Previous experience working with immigrant communities or with victims of domestic violence is highly desired
• Applicants must work well independently and together with a team of attorneys, paralegals and social service professionals
• Applicants must be detail-oriented, well-organized, responsible and personable

How to Apply: Please submit applications only via email to Katherine Beck at katherine@ayuda.com. Applications must include a resume and a detailed cover letter describing your specific interest in Ayuda and how you would contribute to the work of the Immigration Unit. Applicants should confirm their availability and state their desired start and end dates in their cover letter.

No phone calls please. Applications will be reviewed as they are submitted and positions remain open until filled.