Internships

HRI offers internship opportunities for students wishing to gain firsthand knowledge in immigration and nationality law and international human rights.  Any student currently enrolled at an institution of higher education (or a qualified high school senior) is eligible to apply for HRI's Internship Program.  However, only students expressing an interest in HRI's mission will be selected to participate. HRI offers ongoing internships in Legal and Client Services Department.  We also offer special internships based on the student's area of study or interest.   

SUMMER LEGAL INTERNSHIPS

HRI provides unpaid summer internship opportunities for law students wishing to gain firsthand knowledge in immigration law and international human rights issues.  The Interns will be involved in all aspects of HRI's legal work.  This includes preparation of applications for various forms of immigration relief, including asylum, VAWA, U Visa's and SIJS.  The intern will also receive direct experience screening potential clients as a participant in our intake process, and learn how HRI attorneys select cases and analyze whether a potential client's claim meets the legal standard.  Other work will include numerous client interviews, drafting of supporting affidavits, witness preparation, outlining of direct and redirect examinations, legal research, brief writing, and expert witness/country conditions research. The vast majority of the work in the internship will be hands-on, including shadowing the attorneys in their meetings with pro bono attorneys and clients. By the end of the summer, the Intern will possess an understanding of much of the relevant law related, and also will have gained insights into the practical day to day aspects of being a human rights attorney.  In addition, the Intern will have been exposed to clients from a wide array of countries, with complicated, varying legal and personal issues, and will have the satisfaction of knowing he or she has truly helped saved someone's life.

TIME PERIODS AVAILABLE

Summer I: May through beginning of July

Summer II: July through August

INTERSHIPS AVAILABLE

1.   Asylum Program

2.   Women and Children's Program

3.   Advocacy (part-time)

QUALIFICATIONS

The legal internship is open to all first and second year law students.

Salary: Unpaid (but Intern may be able to find funding through school or other grants)

SELECTION PROCESS

To apply, please provide the following. prefarably by email, to svarghese@hrionline.org by February 12, 2010:

1.  Resume

2.  Writing Sample

3.  Cover letter expressing your interest.

Selected applicants will be asked to complete a separate Intern Application form.  HRI will contact applicants to schedule an interview by telephone or in-person.  HRI will not re-imburse applicants for travel to and from its Dallas office, however, in-person interviews can be scheduled during your Spring Break.

Other Internship areas include:

• Agency Development, Website & Metrics
• Human Resources
• General Office & High School Seniors
• Advocacy
• Client Services
• Fundraising & Marketing
• Asylum Program
• Women & Children's Program
• Volunteer Program

Eligibility & Selection Requirements

The application requirements are contained in the Intern Application Packet 2009. To be considered for an internship, please provide HRI with the following: 

• Completed Intern Application Form.
• Signed and dated Authorization for Background Check. HRI conducts a mandatory background check on all interns. The background verification services are provided by VeriFYI at a cost to HRI of $10.00 per person screened.  To help defray these costs, please make a donation to HRI in the amount of $10.00. Please do not send your check in to HRI until you have been selected for an internship.
• Signed Intern Confidentiality Agreement.
• Current resume.
• Legal interns are also required to submit a writing sample.

You are strongly encouraged to submit the required items with an email or cover letter expressing your interest in interning. If you have any questions about these requirements or the selection process, feel free to contact Katharine Brunson.  Email inquires are preferred. 

Client Services Partnership Development, Internship  

This is an Exxon Mobil Community Summer Job Program (This is a paid internship)

Click here for a full description of this opportunity: Exxon Mobil Summer Internship