Summer Internship – Legal Intern Survivors of Torture Program

Requisition ID: req49822

Job Title: Summer Internship – Legal Intern Survivors of Torture Program

Sector: Legal

Employment Category: Intern

Employment Type: Part-Time

Open to Expatriates: No

Location: Denver, CO USA

Work Arrangement: In-person

Job Description

BACKGROUND: The International Rescue Committee (IRC) helps people whose lives and livelihoods are
shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover, and gain control of their future. Founded in 1933, the
IRC is at work today in more than 40 countries and in 24 U.S. cities. The IRC’s U.S. Programs (USP)
department creates opportunities for refugees and other vulnerable migrants to survive and thrive in
America. USP serves more than 40,000 individuals each year, including thousands of newly arrived
refugees, through a diverse portfolio of programs aimed at achieving outcomes in five impact areas: Health,
Safety, Economic Wellbeing, Education, and Power.

The IRC works with government bodies, civil society actors and local volunteers to help refugees, asylees
and those with Special Immigrant Visas translate their past experiences into assets that are valuable to
their new communities. In Denver and other offices across the country, the IRC helps refugees and asylees
to rebuild their lives through services and programs that assist with initial resettlement through longer-term
integration. Presently, these services include case management, employment services, psychosocial
support, family stabilization, health coordination, health insurance literacy, family reunification, immigration
legal services, and programs for children and youth.

The Survivor Wellness Center at the IRC offers wrap aroundservices tosurvivors of tortureincluding clinical
support and access to legal representation. The legal services department works to pair those eligible for
the program with pro bono representation in their asylum, withholding of removal and protection under the
Convention Against Torture cases. Offering support and mentorship to those attorneys volunteering with
the program.

SCOPE OF INTERN WORK: With oversight from the Asylum Programs Manager, the Survivors of Torture
Immigration Legal Intern will work on a range of services pertaining to asylum, withholding of removal and
protection under the Convention Against Torture, including providing support to pro bono attorneys
and assisting in the creation of training and policy initiatives.

RESPONSIBILITIES:
• Research and prepare legal memos and materials for asylum applications, as well as other forms
of immigration relief, for survivors of torture. Directly assist in the preparation of asylum
applications and representation of asylum seekers
• Facilitate the development and maintenance of IRC’s training materials for pro bono
representatives.
• With oversight from the Asylum Programs Manager, prepare filings such as employment
authorization applications and freedom of information act requests on behalf of survivor of torture
clients
• Assist with the development of community outreach strategies as needed.
• Other duties as assigned.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
1. The intern will gain professional experience providing technical assistance and programmatic
support to the Denver IRC legal program.
2. The intern will deepen understanding of asylum law and policy
3. The intern will gain practical experience working in a fast-paced environment for a large NGO in a
challenging policy environment for refugees and immigrants

This is an unpaid internship position. No financial compensation, including compensation for
relocation, is available.

To Apply: Interested applicants should submit an application, along with a resume, a writing sample, and a
cover letter addressing how your skills and experience meet the requirements of the internship : https://irc-
global.my.salesforce-sites.com/volunteer

Qualifications

REQUIREMENTS:
• Strong interest and experience working in immigration and refugee issues.
• Very strong written communication skills, including the ability to effectively distill and present
complex information in a concise, accessible way.
• Excellent organizational skills, including the ability to prioritize, multi-task, and manage time
effectively.
• Strong preference given to current or recent law school students.