BACKGROUND: The International Rescue Committee (IRC) helps people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover, and gain control of their future. Founded in 1933, the IRC is at work today in more than 40 countries and in 24 U.S. cities. The IRC’s U.S. Programs (USP) department creates opportunities for refugees and other vulnerable migrants to survive and thrive in America. USP serves more than 40,000 individuals each year, including thousands of newly arrived refugees, through a diverse portfolio of programs aimed at achieving outcomes in five impact areas: Health, Safety, Economic Wellbeing, Education, and Power.

The IRC works with government bodies, civil society actors and local volunteers to help refugees, asylees and those with Special Immigrant Visas translate their past experiences into assets that are valuable to their new communities. In Denver and other offices across the country, the IRC helps refugees and asylees to rebuild their lives through services and programs that assist with initial resettlement through longer-term integration. Presently, these services include case management, employment services, psychosocial support, family stabilization, health coordination, health insurance literacy, family reunification, immigration legal services, and programs for children and youth.

The Survivor Wellness Center at the IRC offers wrap around services to survivors of torture including clinical support and access to legal representation. The legal services department works to pair those eligible for the program with pro bono representation in their asylum, withholding of removal and protection under the Convention Against Torture cases. Offering support and mentorship to those attorneys volunteering with the program.

SCOPE OF INTERN WORK: With oversight from the Asylum Programs Manager, the Survivors of Torture Immigration Legal Intern will work on a range of services pertaining to asylum, withholding of removal and protection under the Convention Against Torture, including providing support to pro bono attorneys and assisting in the creation of training and policy initiatives.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Research and prepare legal memos and materials for asylum applications, as well as other forms of immigration relief, for survivors of torture. Directly assist in the preparation of asylum applications and representation of asylum seekers
• Facilitate the development and maintenance of IRC’s training materials for pro bono representatives.
• With oversight from the Asylum Programs Manager, prepare filings such as employment authorization applications and freedom of information act requests on behalf of survivor of torture clients
• Assist with the development of community outreach strategies as needed.
• Other duties as assigned.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

• The intern will gain professional experience providing technical assistance and programmatic support to the Denver IRC legal program.
• The intern will deepen understanding of asylum law and policy
• The intern will gain practical experience working in a fast-paced environment for a large NGO in a challenging policy environment for refugees and immigrants

REQUIREMENTS: