Immigration Legal Services Internship

Summer 2026 Immigration Legal Services Internship

The International Institute of New England is a 501(c)(3) non-profit serving refugees and immigrants in Boston, MA, Lowell, MA, and Manchester, NH. The Institute offers internships to students, graduate students, and recent graduates with demonstrated interest or experience in supporting refugee, asylee, and immigrant populations. Each internship includes an educational component, through which interns contextualize their experience and reflect on their service.

All internships are unpaid and correspond roughly with the US semester system:

• Summer Internship: June through mid-August 2026

(Applications requested by May 2nd, considered thereafter until positions are filled)

First consideration is given to applicants that can commit at least 16 hours per week over the course of the semester outlined above. Applicants are encouraged to apply regardless of whether their schedule fits the semester system; IINE makes exceptions on a case-by-case basis. Slots fill quickly and candidates are encouraged to apply earlier than the requested date above.

Please note that this internship will be a remote format, meaning that all hours are conducted online.

Immigration Legal Services Internship Overview

IINE’s Immigration Legal Services team provides high quality legal assistance in immigration matters including applications for citizenship, legal permanent residence, extension of parole, work authorization, family reunification, and humanitarian immigration matters.

Depending on skills and qualifications, interns may assist in various tasks including but not limited to document review, preparing immigration forms, file management, legal research, and data analysis for grant reports. Interns may have opportunities to observe client consultations and meetings with legal representatives.

Reports To: Director, Immigration Legal ServicesLocation: Lowell, MA or Boston, MA

Key Responsibilities:

• Assist with legal case management including but not limited to:*
  • Document collection and review
  • Assisting clients in completing information worksheets for case preparation
  • Case data entry and management
  • Assist in preparing application forms as appropriate
  • File management
• Legal research into general immigration law matters and case specific issues*
  • Draft research memos and guides to support legal services team
  • Review and summarize updates to immigration policy and court cases
• Observe and assist with client meetings
• Assist in preparing legal presentation materials

Qualifications:

• Interest in immigration law with an emphasis on humanitarian immigration matters
• Exceptional reading and writing skills (preference for legal research and writing experience)
• Patience speaking with non-native English speakers/non-English speakers
• Professionalism, discretion, and maturity in dealing with confidential information
• Ability to maintain confidentiality of client information
• Experience with or strong interest in advocating on behalf of others
• Bilingual candidates preferred (not required)
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Highly organized with great attention to detail
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint
• Familiarity with e-immigration or other case management software is desirable but not required
• Preference for current law students; however, highly achieving undergraduate students with an interest in immigration law will also be considered.

Learning Objectives:

• Recognize common challenges faced by immigrant and refugee populations
• Develop strong advocacy and interpersonal skills
• Develop legal research and writing skills
• Gain familiarity with current immigration laws, policies and practices
• Gain familiarity with immigration applications (forms and procedures)
• Identify best practices associated with legal case management
• Identify best practices in effective client communications
• Capture important information from meetings in concise case notes
• Identify and access community resources and services, particularly those responsive to the needs of refugees and immigrants.
• Respectfully express and engage with ideas and values in a multilingual environment.