Internships

Summer 2024 Internship Opportunities

Undergraduate Internship, Detained Adult Program - Legal Orientation Program

Detained Adult Program  

Legal Orientation Program (LOP) Undergrad Internship 

SUMMER 2024 

The Capital Area Immigrants’ Rights (CAIR) Coalition is seeking undergraduate students with a passion for immigrants’ rights and a desire to learn more about the immigration detention system to be a part of our internship program for the Detained Adult Program – Legal Orientation Program. The Detained Adult Program works with hundreds of adults who are detained by ICE in Virginia, providing information, support, and legal representation. The Legal Orientation Program provides information to unrepresented immigrants in detention, about their rights and about the immigrant court process, so that people in detention can make informed decisions about their legal cases. Our LOP team also works to connect unrepresented people to pro bono counsel whenever possible. 

 

We are currently accepting applications for Summer 2024. Our Summer Internship Program requires a commitment of at least 10 weeks, starting on May 28, 2024. This is a full-time internship opportunity.

 

Internships are unpaid; however, CAIR Coalition can assist students seeking internship credit or funding. 

 

Remote Work:   

To keep our internships accessible to all students regardless of geographic location, all Summer 2024 internships will be remote. We encourage applicants from local law schools, as well as those from outside the D.C. area, to apply. While there will be no requirement that interns conduct any in-person work during their internships, interns may have the opportunity to appear in or observe court in-person if they are comfortable doing so. There will also be opportunities for occasional in-office work, in-person meetings, and events with staff and fellow interns. 

 

DESCRIPTION OF INTERNSHIP PROGRAM: 

General Responsibilities:

 

  • Enter intakes and messages from jail visit onto our client database
  • Assist on preparation and breakdown for monthly jail visit
  • Staff the detention hotline
  • Research political, economic, and social country conditions articles for pro se asylum applicants
  • Prepare other informational materials distributed at each jail visit
  • Prepare documents for filing in immigration court

 

Occasional Responsibilities: 

 

  • Participate in weekly review of intakes from jails/detention centers 
  • Attend training opportunities within the office
  • Shadow trial prep and other various case follow up on a jail visit, through video teleconference, phone, or written messages
  • Expand our country conditions database
  • Observe immigration court hearings 
  • Filing and other administrative assistance as needed  

 

QUALIFICATIONS: 

 

  • Currently enrolled in an undergraduate program
  • Must be 18 or older
  • Spanish Intermediate skills or fluency is strongly preferred 
  • Ability to work well both individually and as part of a team
  • Ability and/or prior experience to relate to and work with low-income clients with histories of trauma and/or previous interactions with the criminal justice system is a plus.
  • Detail oriented
  • Self-starter

 

REQUIRED RESOURCES:

 

Given the partially remote nature of this internship, all interns must also have access to:

  • A laptop or computer (*);

  • Reliable internet;

  • A phone.

 

*CAIR Coalition may be able to provide access to a temporary laptop as needed

 

Please apply to ONLY ONE department within CAIR Coalition. For example, if you apply for this internship with the Immigration Impact Lab, please do not also apply for an internship with the Detained Adult Program. Please choose the department that best matches your preference, skills, and experience.  

 

APPLICATION PROCESS: 

To be considered for the internship, pleas fill out the application link below attach the following materials in .pdf format: 

 

  • A cover letter indicating your interest in the position. Please describe what experiences, personal or professional, have motivated you to apply. 

  • A resume;  

  • At least 2 references; and 

  • A writing sample. In addition to legal memoranda and briefs, research papers and articles are accepted. Only one writing sample is required and preferred.  

 

APPLICATION LINK: https://forms.gle/aUEWKkNhtaGqZUWs6  

 

DEADLINE TO APPLY: April 15, 2024

 

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Interviews may be scheduled and offers given before the deadline, so please apply as soon as you are able. 

Undergraduate Internship, Volunteer Program

Volunteer Program Undergrad Internship 

SUMMER 2024 

The Capital Area Immigrants’ Rights (CAIR) Coalition is the only non-profit organization in the Washington, D.C. area focused exclusively on providing legal assistance to the adult and children immigrants detained by the government in the Capital Region. 

 

We are currently accepting applications for Summer 2024. Our Summer Internship Program requires a commitment of at least 10 weeks, starting on May 28, 2024. This is a full-time internship opportunity.

 

Internships are unpaid; however, CAIR Coalition can assist students seeking internship credit or funding. 

 

Remote Work:   

To keep our internships accessible to all students regardless of geographic location, all Summer 2024 internships will be remote. We encourage applicants from local law schools, as well as those from outside the D.C. area, to apply. While there will be no requirement that interns conduct any in-person work during their internships, interns may have the opportunity to appear in or observe court in-person if they are comfortable doing so. There will also be opportunities for occasional in-office work, in-person meetings, and events with staff and fellow interns. 

 

DESCRIPTION OF DETENTION HOTLINE INTERNSHIP: 

The Capital Area Immigrants’ Rights (CAIR) Coalition is looking for an undergraduate student to support our Volunteer Programs team, which engages hundreds of volunteers through several volunteer opportunities, including the Detention Hotline, translation & interpretation, and detention center visits. The internship will provide an opportunity to learn and work on a wide range of projects centered on volunteer outreach & recruitment, and volunteer program management & development.  

Volunteer Program Management & Development (70%) 

  • Research structure of volunteer opportunities for other immigration legal service providers to inform volunteer program development. 

  • Provide support on proposals and planning for new volunteer opportunities. 

  • Assist with volunteer database upkeep and listserv maintenance. 

  • Support on managing translation and interpretation volunteers. 

  • Other administrative and volunteer stewardship tasks as needed. 

  • Support on the creation of new volunteer positions to provide opportunity for deeper engagement. 

Volunteer Outreach & Recruitment (30%) 

  • Take lead on creating targeted ads for volunteer opportunities  

  • Conduct outreach to local undergraduate and graduate programs to promote volunteer opportunities and internships 

  • Create plan for outreach to local faith communities to promote volunteer opportunities 

  • Represent CAIR Coalition at outreach/tabling events 

 

REQUIREMENTS:   

  • Must be pursuing an undergraduate degree 

  • Must be 18 or older 

  • Experience as a volunteer or demonstrated interest in volunteer engagement 

  • Ability to work with and communicate with diverse audiences 

  • Ease with technology and proficiency in a variety of basic computer programs such as Microsoft 
    Word, Microsoft Excel, and Google Docs. 

  • Highly organized and self-motivated 

  • Strong interpersonal and communications skills 

 

REQUIRED RESOURCES: 

Given the partially remote nature of this internship, all interns must also have access to: 

  • A laptop or computer (*); 

  • Reliable internet; 

  • A phone. 

 

*CAIR Coalition may be able to provide access to a temporary laptop as needed 

 

 

Please apply to ONLY ONE department within CAIR Coalition. For example, if you apply for this internship with the Immigration Impact Lab, please do not also apply for an internship with the Detained Adult Program. Please choose the department that best matches your preference, skills, and experience.  

 

APPLICATION PROCESS: 

To be considered for the internship, pleas fill out the application link below attach the following materials in .pdf format: 

 

  • A cover letter indicating your interest in the position. Please describe what experiences, personal or professional, have motivated you to apply. 

  • A resume;  

  • At least 2 references; and 

  • A writing sample. In addition to legal memoranda and briefs, research papers and articles are accepted. Only one writing sample is required and preferred.  

 

APPLICATION LINK: https://forms.gle/aUEWKkNhtaGqZUWs6  

 

DEADLINE TO APPLY: April 15, 2024

 

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Interviews may be scheduled and offers given before the deadline, so please apply as soon as you are able. 

Undergraduate Internship, Detention Hotline

Detention Hotline Undergrad Internship 

SUMMER 2024 

The Capital Area Immigrants’ Rights (CAIR) Coalition is the only non-profit organization in the Washington, D.C. area focused exclusively on providing legal assistance to the adult and children immigrants detained by the government in the Capital Region. 

 

We are currently accepting applications for Summer 2024. Our Summer Internship Program requires a commitment of at least 10 weeks, starting on May 28, 2024. This will be a part-time internship consisting of 10-20 hours per week. 

 

Internships are unpaid; however, CAIR Coalition can assist students seeking internship credit or funding. 

 

Remote Work:   

To keep our internships accessible to all students regardless of geographic location, all Summer 2024 internships will be remote. We encourage applicants from local law schools, as well as those from outside the D.C. area, to apply. While there will be no requirement that interns conduct any in-person work during their internships, interns may have the opportunity to appear in or observe court in-person if they are comfortable doing so. There will also be opportunities for occasional in-office work, in-person meetings, and events with staff and fellow interns. 

 

DESCRIPTION OF DETETION HOTLINE INTERNSHIP: 

The Capital Area Immigrants’ Rights (CAIR) Coalition is looking for two undergraduate students to support our Detention Hotline, which connects staff members in the Detained Adult Program in the provision of legal services to noncitizen adults held in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody throughout Virginia, as well as local residents detained by ICE in other states such as Pennsylvania & Georgia. The Detention Hotline Interns will be answering and fielding calls from detained immigrants to our legal staff and fielding messages to answer their questions. The Detention Hotline Interns will also assist with other administrative tasks relating to the hotline and CAIR Coalition’s volunteer programs. This position will give students the opportunity to utilize and improve their oral Spanish skills and learn more about immigration law.  

Depending on Spanish fluency level, students will also have the opportunity to translate documents to be submitted to court, and interpret calls between CAIR Coalition attorneys and clients.  

Detention Hotline (45%) 

  • Staff the detention hotline and help detained immigrant individuals access legal services by:  

  • connecting callers with CAIR Coalition legal staff 

  • delivering follow-up messages relating to individual’s cases 

  • providing information about CAIR Coalition’s upcoming jail visits 

  • Data entry relating to client information and interactions over the detention hotline 

Translation & Interpreting (30%) 

  • Translate documents to be submitted to court in support of the legal immigration cases of clients and pro se individuals 

  • Documents include declarations, letters of support, birth certificates, and news articles 

  • Interpret calls between CAIR Coalition attorneys and their clients 

  • Types of calls include declaration readbacks, hearing prep, offers of legal representation, witness interviews, etc.  

Additional Responsibilities (25%) 

  • Provide training and support for volunteers staffing the detention hotline 

  • Attend training opportunities within the office 

  • Data entry related to the volunteer program 

  • Supporting on other projects within the Volunteer Program as capacity and interest allow 

 

REQUIREMENTS:   

  • Must be pursuing an undergraduate degree 

  • Must be 18 or older 

  • Minimum professional proficiency in Spanish required; Spanish fluency preferred 

  • Customer service skills including experience communicating with diverse audiences 

  • Ease with technology and proficiency in a variety of basic computer programs such as Microsoft 
    Word, Microsoft Excel, and Google Docs. 

  • Quick learner & adaptable, with proven ability to learn new software or technology 

  • Highly organized and self-motivated 

  • Strong interpersonal and communications skills 

 

REQUIRED RESOURCES: 

Given the partially remote nature of this internship, all interns must also have access to: 

  • A laptop or computer (*); 

  • Reliable internet; 

  • A phone. 

 

*CAIR Coalition may be able to provide access to a temporary laptop as needed 

 

Please apply to ONLY ONE department within CAIR Coalition. For example, if you apply for this internship with the Immigration Impact Lab, please do not also apply for an internship with the Detained Adult Program. Please choose the department that best matches your preference, skills, and experience.  

 

APPLICATION PROCESS: 

To be considered for the internship, pleas fill out the application link below attach the following materials in .pdf format: 

 

  • A cover letter indicating your interest in the position. Please describe what experiences, personal or professional, have motivated you to apply. 

  • A resume;  

  • At least 2 references; and 

  • A writing sample. In addition to legal memoranda and briefs, research papers and articles are accepted. Only one writing sample is required and preferred.  

 

APPLICATION LINK: https://forms.gle/aUEWKkNhtaGqZUWs6  

 

DEADLINE TO APPLY: April 15, 2024

 

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Interviews may be scheduled and offers given before the deadline, so please apply as soon as you are able. 

bW

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