Law school interns gain valuable legal experience assisting CAIR Coalition’s legal team in the following areas:
JAIL VISITS
CAIR Coalition’s legal staff conducts legal rights presentations in rural county jails in Virginia and Maryland for detained immigrants. Detained immigrants include asylum seekers, long term residents, and other individuals who have committed immigration violations. After the presentation legal interns meet with individual detainees to obtain additional information about their cases. These intakes are then be reviewed by CAIR Coalition staff to determine what further assistance, if any, can be provided to the detainee.
REPRESENTATION OF DETAINED IMMIGRANTS
During our jail visits, we encounter individuals in need of representation in their immigration cases. Upon review of their cases, we assist individuals in removal proceedings to apply for protection-based relief (asylum, withholding of removal, and protection under the Convention Against Torture), Cancellation of Removal for Lawful and for non-Lawful Permanent Residents, U and T visas, Adjustment of Status, Refugee Waivers and claims to United States citizenship. CAIR Coalition may take on direct representation of such individuals or partner with local law firms. Legal interns work with CAIR Coalition’s legal team to provide both direct representation to detainees and assistance to pro bono attorneys who agree to represent detainees.
REPRESENTATION AT CREDIBLE FEAR INTERVIEWS:
When someone arrives at an international airport without documents (or with documents that are not his own) he is first interviewed by airport personnel. If the person expresses a fear of returning to his country because of persecution (based on their race, religion, political opinion, social group or nationality/ethnicity) he is placed in the “credible fear” process, and given an opportunity to further articulate that fear and to ask for asylum before an Immigration Judge. When an asylum seeker arrives at BWI or Dulles Airport and is scheduled for a credible fear interview, the Arlington Asylum Office contacts CAIR Coalition to allow us to arrange for someone to be present at the interview and speak with the applicant to explain and guide him through the process. CAIR Coalition interns may be asked to attend one or more such credible fear interview.
APPLICATION PROCESS
If you are a law student who wishes to apply for an internship program, you should submit an application packet containing:
1. A cover letter describing your interest in an internship with CAIR Coalition;
2. A resume;
3. Your most recent academic transcript (unofficial is acceptable); and
4. A writing sample to:
Liz McGrail
Legal Director
CAIR Coalition
1612 K St., NW, suite 204
Washington, DC 20006
liz.mcgrail@caircoalition.org
Application materials may be sent via email or the United States Postal Service. Deadlines for internships are as follows: July 15 (Fall Semester); November 15 (Spring Semester) and February 15 (Summer).