Immigrant Tenant Advocacy Program manager Joshua Butnick with staff attorney Kenny Minaya.
CMS is currently accepting applications from first and second year law students for summer legal internships in the following three program areas: immigration legal services (affirmative filings and removal defense), immigrant tenant advocacy (housing legal services), and immigrant workers’ rights (employment legal services). Accepted applicants will work exclusively in one program area for the duration of their internships. All internships are unpaid, and students are encouraged to seek summer public interest funding and/or to make arrangements with their law schools for work-study stipends or course credit. See below for information specific to each program area internship.
HOW TO APPLY
Applicants should send a cover letter, resume, two references, and legal writing sample (approximately 10 pages) to resumes@catholicmigration.org, with one of the following subject lines to specify which program you would like to be considered for:
Summer 2013 Internship Application – Immigration Legal Services
Summer 2013 Internship Application – Immigrant Workers’ Rights
Summer 2013 Internship Application – Immigrant Tenant Advocacy
You will receive an automatic reply acknowledging receipt of your application. Details on how to apply can also be downloaded here: CMS Summer Internship Info
IMMIGRATION LEGAL SERVICES PROGRAM
The Immigration Legal Services Program represents immigrants before US Citizenship and Immigration Service and Executive Office for Immigration Review. We assist clients with filing various affirmative applications such as family based petitions; naturalization applications; VAWA; DACA; U Visas; and Asylum applications. We also represent clients who are facing deportation in immigration court.
INTERNSHIP OVERVIEW
Legal interns with the Immigration Legal Service Program will have the opportunity to participate in all aspects of litigation. The internship position is full-time (35 hours/week) and requires a minimum 8 week commitment.
ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Interns will work closely with our immigration attorneys and B.I.A. accredited counselors to gain hands-on experience at all stages of immigration court litigation and processing of affirmative immigration applications. Additionally, interns will help conduct the bi-monthly immigration legal clinics.
DESIRED EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS
The legal internships are open to rising 2L’s/3L’s who possess the following:
- Excellent research, writing, and communication skills
- Proficiency in English and Spanish and/or Hatian Creole (strongly preferred)
- A demonstrated interest in and commitment to public interest work and immigration law.
THE IMMIGRANT WORKERS’ RIGHTS PROGRAM
The Immigrant Workers’ Rights Program was founded in 2009 to empower immigrant workers to assert their rights under the law. In collaboration with federal, state, and local government agencies, and the consulates of several Latin American nations, CMS operates Linea Laboral, a bilingual hotline that workers can call to report workplace abuses, file complaints, and learn about their rights. CMS provides free representation to low-wage workers in administrative proceedings, as well as in litigation in state and federal court.
INTERNSHIP OVERVIEW
Legal interns with the Immigrant Workers’ Rights Program will have the opportunity to participate in all aspects of litigation and advocacy. The internship position is full-time (35 hours/week) and requires a minimum 8 week commitment.
ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Interns will work closely with a staff attorney and gain hands-on experience at all stages of the administrative complaint and civil litigation process, including:
- Interviewing clients and conducting intakes
- Conducting legal research
- Drafting memoranda, briefs, complaints, and other legal papers
DESIRED EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS
The legal internships are open to first and second year law students who possess the following:
- Excellent research, writing, and communication skills
- Proficiency in English and Spanish (strongly preferred)
- A demonstrated interest in and commitment to civil rights, especially immigrants’ rights and workers’ rights.
THE IMMIGRANT TENANT ADVOCACY PROGRAM
Since 2005, the Immigrant Tenant Advocacy Program (ITAP) has provided free legal services, education, and advocacy to newcomers in Queens and Brooklyn who suffer from substandard housing conditions and related exploitation. Through traditional lawyering, community organizing, leadership formation and public advocacy, attorneys not only represent tenants in court but work to educate, organize and empower immigrant tenants.
INTERNSHIP OVERVIEW
Legal interns with the Immigrant Tenant Advocacy Program will have the opportunity to participate in all aspects of litigation, organizing, and advocacy. The internship position is full-time (35 hours/week) and requires a minimum 8 week commitment.
ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Interns will work closely with the housing project coordinator and gain hands-on experience at all stages of housing court litigation and complaints before the state housing administrative agency. Interns will also work with the office’s community organizers helping to further the office’s community outreach efforts. Additionally, interns will help conduct the bi-monthly walk-in housing legal clinics.
DESIRED EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS
The legal internships are open to rising 3L’swho possess the following
- Excellent research, writing, and communication skills
- Proficiency in English and Spanish (strongly preferred)
- A demonstrated interest in and commitment to public interest, community organizing, and housing law.
