Legal InternAt — Pathways to Citizenship
Pathways to Citizenship invites dedicated and driven college and law students to apply for our rewarding legal internship program. This is an opportunity to witness the intricacies of immigration law, advocate for vulnerable populations, and learn about the cultural and legal challenges immigrants must navigate to succeed in America. Our nonprofit provides free and affordable legal representation for immigrants seeking certain statuses. We help people with becoming citizens, renew DACA status, help people obtain permanent residency, help with temporary protected status, and affirmative Asylum. We not only prepare the required forms for these services but we serve as their official legal representative throughout the duration of their case. Seize the opportunity to immerse yourself in the world of immigration law while contributing to positive change. Apply now for Pathways to Citizenship’s legal internship and take the first step towards a fulfilling and impactful legal career!
Students who participate in the internship at Pathways can expect to acquire a range of legal knowledge and skills. Students will gain a comprehensive understanding of U.S. immigration laws, policies, and procedures. They will learn about different visa categories, asylum processes, deportation defenses, and pathways to citizenship, providing them with a solid foundation in a specialized area of law. Interns will enhance their ability to conduct legal research using various resources such as case law databases, statutes, and legal commentaries. They will also develop strong legal writing skills by drafting briefs and correspondence under the guidance of experienced attorneys and DOJ Accredited Representatives. Students will have the opportunity to work directly with clients, honing their interpersonal communication skills. They will learn to conduct client interviews, gather relevant information, and explain complex legal concepts in an accessible manner. This experience will help them develop empathy, cultural competence, and the ability to navigate sensitive situations. Interns will be involved in the day-to-day management of cases, learning how to organize and maintain client files, track case progress, and meet critical deadlines. They will become familiar with the procedural aspects of legal work, including the filing of documents with government agencies and courts.
Students will begin their time at Pathways with an orientation introducing our organizations' mission, values, and goals. There first day in-office will be an informational overview of our team and how the intern's role fits with the organization. Students will become familiar with office protocols, confidentiality agreements, and data protection policies. Student's will then begin a two week training period where we focus on Immigration Law Fundamentals. Training on the basics of U.S. immigration law, including key statutes, regulations, and legal precedents relevant to Pathway's services. Throughout these two weeks we will cover the client intake process, types of immigration cases Pathways' handles and our case management system. In this period, the intern supervisor will work closely with the students to ensure understanding of role responsibilities and determine if the student is in need of more training support past the allocated 2 weeks. We understand immigration law is a tricky field to learn and want the students to feel empowered before exiting the training period.
Students can apply for this opportunity through our website at https://pathwayssd.org/volunteer/legal-internship/ We do encourage resumes to be emailed to our Intern Program Manager at alyss@pathwayssd.org
| Hours | Duration |
|---|---|
| 5-8 | hours per week |