Internships at the National Immigrant Justice Center

The National Immigrant Justice Center (NIJC), a program of Heartland Alliance for Human Needs and Human Rights in Chicago, Illinois, offers internships to law students and undergraduates to work in variety of its different legal services programs. The internships present an excellent opportunity to learn more about U.S. immigration law and policies while making a difference in the lives of low-income and impoverished individuals who are in need of legal representation.

NIJC has garnered a national reputation for providing quality legal services and advocacy for low-income immigrants, refugees, and asylum-seekers. NIJC’s trainings, publications, and technical assistance reach a diverse constituency of pro bono lawyers, non-profit community groups, policymakers, and government officials. NIJC’s office is located in downtown Chicago.

NIJC seeks one intern for each of the following programs:

• The Jeanne and Joseph Sullivan Project for Protection of Asylum Seekers facilitates pro bono representation for asylum seekers fleeing persecution in their homelands and advocates for the protection of human rights. This project also provides legal services for individuals seeking protection from gender-based persecution, both in the United States and in their home countries. (French and Spanish speakers encouraged to apply.)
• Detained Immigrant Protection Project provides legal orientation and representation to detained immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers and advances their legal and human rights through advocacy, litigation, and public education. (Spanish and Russian speakers encouraged to apply.)
• Immigrant Legal Defense offers legal services to immigrants, including family visa petitions, legal permanent residency, U.S. citizenship, and Temporary Protected Status. (French and Spanish speakers encouraged to apply.)
• Immigrant Children’s Protection Project provides specialized legal services to and advocates for immigrant children, many of whom are fleeing human rights abuses such as forced recruitment as soldiers, sexual exploitation, and child labor. (Mandarin, French, and Russian speakers encouraged to apply.)
• Counter-Trafficking Project provides comprehensive services to victims of human trafficking, conducts trainings, offer technical assistance, and raises public awareness of the issue.
• National Asylum Partnership on Sexual Minorities (NAPSM) ensures protections for LGBT individuals who are victims of persecution in their home countries because of sexual orientation, gender identity, or HIV status. (French and Spanish speakers encouraged to apply.)

All interns will assist with general administrative and clerical work for NIJC, including filing, photocopying, answering phones, shipping and mailing, and drafting routine correspondence. Undergraduates will be expected to fulfill more administrative duties than legal interns.

In general, an internship may include the following activities:
• Interview immigration clients telephonically and in-person to collect factual information related to their cases;
• Input case-related information into client database and prepare case summaries and legal immigration documents and materials;
• Conduct follow-up interviews with clients throughout the case preparation process;
• Assist NIJC attorneys in preparing for hearings before the Executive Office for Immigration Review; and
• Ensure copies of all relevant documentation are routed to the client’s case file.

Qualifications: Interns must have a passion for our issues and excellent written and verbal communication skills. The ideal candidates are independent, detail-oriented, and highly organized. Experience with Windows XP, Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Word is a must. Database experience is very helpful. Oral comprehension and proficiency in both English and another language; Spanish, Mandarin, or French is highly preferred. Applicants must be open to evolving responsibilities.

Internships are unpaid, although candidates are encouraged to seek outside funding and/or university credit.

To Apply: Please send your application to Alexis Perlmutter at aperlmutter@heartlandalliance.org. Applications must include the following:

• Cover Letter
• Resume
• Brief Writing Sample (3-5 pages on any topic, law students may choose to submit legal writings)
• 2 References
• Transcript(s), if available

Applicants interested in more than one project may specify the projects of interest in a cover letter. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. No phone calls, please.

The application deadline for the spring term is January 31; February 28 for the summer term; and August 31 for the fall term. We encourage students with a strong interest in joining us to apply early. Recent graduates may apply.

The National Immigrant Justice Center, an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer, is strongly committed to diversity and welcomes applications of all races, ethnicities, genders, and sexual orientations, including people who have been previously incarcerated.