Job Title: Immigration Legal Services Intern Summer 2025

Employment Category: Internship

Employment Type: Volunteer

Open to Expatriates: No

Location: Baltimore, Maryland

Job Description

Scope of Work

The IRC is recognized by the U.S. Department of Justice to provide immigration legal services. Some of our services include filing applications for adjustment of status (i.e. green cards), naturalization, and family reunification for refugees, asylees and immigrants. Interns will gain experience working at an internationally recognized non-profit organization and a first-hand look at the basics of immigration processes and procedures.

Reports To

Immigration Legal Assistant or Legal Representative

Le arning Objectives

• Gain exposure to the challenges and opportunities for providing nonprofit immigration legal services.

• Learn basic policies and procedures of the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

• Learn practical methods to fill out USCIS immigration forms, to organize and provide supporting documents, and to help clients write financial affidavits for fee waivers, affidavits of birth, and affidavits in response to USCIS requests for additional evidence. Practice and apply basic interviewing techniques to conduct client intake forms, including methods to develop trust with clients, ensure complete disclosure, and identify red flags while gathering information.

Responsibilities

• Under the guidance of IRC immigration staff, meet with clients to assist with specific applications and forms.

  • Track, file and mail relevant documents, applications and notices of action; maintain immigration databases.

  • Ensure that translation services for immigration processes and procedures are provided in a language that is accessible to clients during intakes and application completions.

  • Assist with special research or other projects.

  • Other tasks and related duties as assigned.

Position Details

• IN-PERSON: Summer 2025 internships will be in-person. This includes a combination of standard office environment, remote work, and field time within the greater Baltimore area. The Immigration team requires interns to work in office for a minimum of 3 days per week for a minimum of 4 hours.

• DATES: Internships start with a required in-person orientation on Monday, June 2nd, 2025 (approx. 9:30 AM – 3 PM) at the IRC Baltimore office. Regular weekly hours start the week of June 2nd, 2025, and will continue through August 22nd, 2025 (12 total weeks).

• HOURS: The Immigration team requires interns to work in office for a minimum of 3 days per week for a minimum of 4 hours. Fridays between 9am to 1pm are mandatory as one of these in-office days. The remaining two in-office days can be selected at the intern’s discretion. The immigration team is looking for an intern that can commit to a minimum of 20 hours per week (8 hours can be allocated to remote work).

• LAPTOP: Interns will be issued an IRC laptop for the duration of the internship to perform both remote and in-office responsibilities.

• REIMBURSEMENT: Internships with the IRC in Baltimore are unpaid. University credit may be arranged. Summer 2025 interns are eligible for per diem reimbursement at the rate of $15 per day (defined as 7.5 hours) to offset the costs of food and travel of the internship. Interns may also be reimbursed for mileage driven for any approved activities (based on round-trip mileage from the IRC office).

Application Process

• DUE DATE: apply online at www.rescue.org/careers by 11:59 PM ET on Sunday, April 20th.

• INTERVIEWS:Applicants selected for interviews will be contacted to schedule interviews between April 21st – May 5th, 2025. Due to the volume of applications, only applicants who are selected for interviews will be contacted. Interviews will be conducted approximately May 7th and May 8th , 2025.

• OFFERS:Applicants who have interviewed for positions can expect to receive a decision no later than May 19th, 2025. Confirmations will be due at the latest by May 23rd, 2025.

  Qualifications

• Prior experience and/or interest working with refugees and immigrants.

• Prior experience and/or interest in law or providing nonprofit legal services.

• Ability to work independently and as a team member in a fast-paced, global environment.

• Ability to learn new immigration processes quickly.

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

• Strong writing skills: ability to keep clear and accurate case notes and records.

• Proficient in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Outlook) and web-based applications (databases, Box).

  • Fluency in English required. Bilingual ability in one of the predominant languages of the local client base is desired.