ABOUT US: OUR INTERNS
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Each summer, VAAP seeks to host one to two highly motivated upper class law or equivalent graduate students to join us for a ten week summer internship program focused on asylum seeker legal orientation, community education and capacity building, and limited scope humanitarian legal representation. In addition, VAAP considers hosting legal or equivalent externs during the fall or spring academic semesters. Full-time interns work about 35 hours per week and part-time interns work about 18 hours per week. Positions are hybrid-remote with some in-person work required, and include access to coworking space in Burlington's Old North End for value-added team meetings, supervision, legal services, and community events.
Duties and Responsibilities
Complete orientation and training assignments in a timely manner and engage meaningfully in individualized and team-based mechanisms for supervision and support.
Interview potential clients to assess for asylum and other humanitarian status eligibility, assist with placing viable cases with language accessible volunteer representation, and make referrals as appropriate.
Counsel and co-counsel at pro-se assistance clinics and on selected limited- or full-representation humanitarian status cases including by interviewing and counseling clients; developing case theory and legal briefing; preparing and submitting filings and supporting evidence; and accompanying clients to their immigration proceedings.
Maintain client and program files, records, and other data as required in the case management system, including maintaining accurate and contemporaneous timekeeping for all work activities.
Communicate with clients, volunteers, partner providers, social service officials, and other stakeholders in a professional and accessible manner and in accordance with applicable professional and program rules.
Produce detailed case and project transfer memoranda upon completing the summer program.
Assist VAAP staff to develop and share resources that volunteer advocates and community members need to ensure their professional, trauma-informed, and competent VAAP client assistance.
Assist VAAP staff to develop and deliver access to justice programming including Know Your Rights legal orientation for current and prospective clients; Continuing Legal Education for current and prospective volunteers; the VAAP Resource Library; and other events and advocacy as they arise.
Other duties as assigned.
Qualifications
Upper class student in a J.D. or equivalent degree program, having completed at least three semesters of law school and at least one other J.D. program clinic, internship, or externship program or equivalent.
Willing and able to provide for your own funding or to assist VAAP in pursuing funding to support your internship work, or ability to receive academic credit.
Experience and/or commitment to working directly with people from diverse racial, ethnic, linguistic, and socioeconomic backgrounds in ways that are trauma informed.
Excellent oral and written communication skills, including the ability to produce professional legal documents and outreach materials.
Commitment to working in a collaborative, virtual, team-based setting.
Ability and willingness to work autonomously and independently as required by VAAP’s busy work load and hybrid remote work environment.
High level of initiative and ability to project plan, make decisions, solve problems, and to pivot plans quickly and creatively, as needed.
Demonstrable organizational skills in managing a dynamic and complex workload.
Previous immigration advocacy experience preferred.
Professional proficiency in Spanish, French or other non-English language required.
People with lived experience or impacted identities prioritized.
Application instructions
To apply, please email your resume or CV, cover letter, and three (3) professional references to info@vaapvt.org.
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Year-round, VAAP seeks highly motivated high school or undergraduate students to join us for customizable internship experiences focused on administrative assistance, case management and support, communications, and event coordination. Positions are hybrid-remote with access to coworking space in Burlington's Old North End and designated in-office days for value-added team meetings, supervision, and events. Preference is given to individuals who can commit to working with us for the entire academic year and/or at least 18 hours per week over our 10 week summer program.
Duties and Responsibilities
Complete orientation and training assignments in a timely manner and engage meaningfully in individualized and team-based mechanisms for supervision and support.
Provide case support to VAAP advocates providing clients with legal assistance including, but not limited to, attorney-client meeting coordination, interpretation assistance and language access coordination, transportation coordination, assistance with gathering documents and preparing paperwork, and more.
Maintain client and program files, records, and other data as required in the case management system, including maintaining accurate and contemporaneous timekeeping for all work activities.
Communicate with clients, volunteers, partner providers, social service officials, and other stakeholders in a professional and language accessible manner and in accordance with applicable professional and program rules.
Assist VAAP staff to develop and share resources that volunteer advocates need to ensure their professional, trauma-informed, and competent representation of VAAP clients.
Assist VAAP staff to coordinate access to justice programming including Know Your Rights legal orientation for current and prospective clients; Continuing Legal Education for current and prospective volunteers; and other events as they arise.
Assist VAAP staff to develop project proposals, marketing materials, case reports, and other communications needed to advance our advocacy goals, recruit volunteers, and resource the organization.
Other duties as assigned.
Qualifications
Currently enrolled in a high school, bachelor’s, master’s or equivalent diploma or degree program.
Willing and able to provide for your own funding or to assist VAAP in pursuing funding to support your internship work, or ability to receive academic credit.
Commitment to working directly with and fostering a safe environment for people from diverse racial, ethnic, linguistic, and socioeconomic backgrounds.
Interest in collaborative, team-based work that is hybrid-online.
Willingness to engage proactively in accessing supervision.
Willingness to adapt to flexible working hours, including some nights or weekends, as community-facing events require.
Professionally proficient Spanish, French or other non-English language skills required.
Current, valid driver’s license and access to a vehicle you are able to willing to use to perform case support duties which may include client transportation.
People with lived experience or impacted identities prioritized.
Application instructions
To apply, please email your resume or CV, cover letter, and three (3) professional references to info@vaapvt.org.
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VAAP is always looking to expand our impact for Vermont communities and would love to hear from you about your interest in teaming up to apply for project-based legal fellowships (such as Equal Justice Works, Justice Catalyst, Skadden, Soros, Immigrant Justice Corps, and more) and community fellowships (such as Equal Justice Works, VT Folklife Center, etc.). We also partner with local institutions like Migrant Justice to host Peggy Browning Fund Summer Legal Fellows and University of Vermont to host Simon Award Summer Fellows. We believe that all forms of work are labor and people should be paid for their labor, and will help candidates to pursue funding to make work with VAAP sustainable.