Shelter Services Legal Intern (IINE Lowell)

Fall 2025 Shelter Services Legal Intern (IINE Lowell)

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:

• Fall Internship: September through mid-December 2025

First consideration is given to applicants that can commit at least 20 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 in-person at our Lowell office. Based on the role and responsibilities, this internship is best suited for law students, recent graduates of undergraduate programs, and undergraduate students interested in pursuing a career serving immigrants and refugees.

Shelter Services Legal Internship Overview

Interns will have the unique opportunity of learning and working with a small legal team as part of the Shelter Services program. This position offers a unique opportunity to support migrant families in emergency shelters and housing stabilization programs alongside IINE staff. IINE’s Shelter Services clients includes individuals in a variety of immigration statuses seeking the following documentation or outcomes: screening clients for legal pathways to permanent residence, filing applications for benefits with USCIS and EOIR, and employment authorization. Shelter Services Legal Interns will gain an unparalleled hands-on learning experience that will prove especially valuable to anyone interested in pursuing studies or a career in immigration law, international affairs, or policy and advocacy. Interns can expect to shadow client consultations and meetings, conduct in-depth research on country conditions and legal issues, learn the basics of the U.S. immigration system, and prepare educational materials for use by migrant families experiencing or at risk of experiencing homelessness.

Reports to: Managing Attorney, Shelter Services

Location: Lowell, MA (in person)

Key Responsibilities:

• Shadow client consultations and client meetings with legal staff;
• Learn to review and identify immigration documents and civil documents;
• Support legal staff with case prep, filing, documentation, and data entry;
• Research and prepare reports on country conditions and asylum case law;
• Liaise with government agencies including the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services and the Executive Office for Immigration Review;
• Assist in the general day-to-day responsibilities of the legal department, including:

• Helping to maintain the filing system;
• Assisting with case notes/documentation of client contact;
• Client data entry;
• Processing mail;
• Form and application preparation; and,
• Filing preparation (scanning, postage, saving, etc.).

Qualifications:

• Interest in international, refugee, asylee, and/or immigrant issues
• Patience speaking with non-native English speakers / non-English speakers
• Professionalism, discretion, and maturity in dealing with confidential information
• Strong attention to detail and ability to follow instructions efficiently
• Critical thinking skills
• Language skills in Haitian Creole, French and/or Spanish highly desirable
• Ability to work respectfully in a multicultural environment;
• Excellent oral and written communication skill
• Superior organizational skills; and,
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint

Learning Objectives:

1. Understand the basics of the U.S. immigration system;
2. Gain first-hand experience of the realities of emergency shelters;
3. Efficiently collect and document information relevant to legal applications;
4. Develop detailed understanding of legal best practices from an administrative standpoint; and,
5. Respectfully express and engage with ideas and values in a multicultural, multilingual environment.