About the role#
The Immigration Legal Services Department in Silver Spring provides low-cost legal assistance to clients, including support for green card applications, work authorization, naturalization, and family reunification. This internship offers hands-on experience in humanitarian work and immigration law. Interns work directly with the Immigration Services Manager to support day-to-day operations and client needs.
What you'll do#
- Assist clients with requirements for consultations and application sessions with legal staff.
- Answer client questions regarding immigration services and refer them to appropriate staff when necessary.
- Provide general administrative support, including tracking, filing, and mailing documents, applications, and notices of action.
- Enter and update client information in the Lolly Law database.
- Assist with document translation, authentication, and completion.
- Research immigration issues, policies, and programs.
- Build partnerships with local agencies to improve service delivery.
- Promote the immigration department through local networks.
What you'll need#
- Current enrollment in a college degree program related to international relief, humanitarian work, or refugee law, or graduation within the last 12 months.
- Interest or prior experience in U.S. immigration law and outreach.
- Strong research, language, database management, and record-keeping skills.
- A desire to work with limited-English speaking refugees. Proficiency in a second language is a plus, with Spanish, French, Dari, and Pashto being particularly helpful.
Location & details#
- Location: Silver Spring, Maryland.
- Term: Fall 2026 (September through December).
- Commitment: Minimum of 30 hours per week, with at least 15 hours performed on-site.
- Schedule: Interns must attend an in-person orientation on September 7th, 2026.
- Compensation: This is an unpaid internship. Interns may be eligible for a $15 per day per diem to cover food and travel costs.
- Requirements: Selected applicants must complete a background check.
About International Rescue Committee
The International Rescue Committee is a nonprofit organization that provides humanitarian aid to people affected by war and disaster. Founded in 1933, it operates in more than 50 countries and 28 cities across the United States. The organization focuses on areas such as refugee resettlement, health care, and emergency relief. It employs over 13,000 people to support its mission of assisting displaced populations.
How to get in at International Rescue Committee
Applying early gives you a distinct advantage at the International Rescue Committee because recruiters review applications as they arrive. Intern Insider sends an instant alert the moment a role matching your target is published anywhere, so you apply among the first before the pile grows. This helps you avoid the frustration of submitting your materials to a massive, stagnant queue. You can reach out directly to the recruiters behind the company's roles to ask about the position or a referral, which materially improves your response rates. Intern Insider surfaces these specific contacts, allowing you to bypass the standard portal and connect with the people actually hiring for the team.
