Harriet interned for Immigrant Legal Services as a legal intern.
Describe a day in your life as an intern.
I would arrive at the office, meet with my supervising attorney, and spend the rest of the day working on various types of immigration applications. Sometimes I would have an asylum case, other days a U visa, etc. Throughout the internship, I was able to drop off documents at the court, call government agencies, observe client meetings, assemble and mail application packets, write cover letters, and fill out many applications.
What industry/job specific skills did you learn?
I learned a lot of substantive immigration law, including types of visas and the processes for obtaining them. I also learned specific legal writing skills, such as responding to a Request for Evidence letter and writing a legal petition.
What is one thing you learned from this internship experience that could be applied to other settings?
In law school, grades are very competitive. I learned in this internship that grades do not reflect your capacity to excel as a useful part of a working organization. I was able to touch probably 50+ individual lives for good thanks to my willingness to learn, ask questions, and do my best. Irrespective of how your in-class performance is reflected on a transcript, you have important skills and what it takes to succeed in the workforce.
What was your favorite part of your internship experience?
I loved learning how to accomplish something entirely new--helping someone achieve U.S. citizenship. I am so happy to have this new level of understanding about a process that is so complicated and confusing to understand at first.
How did this internship experience affect your future goals?
I went into this internship thinking my one dream was working in immigration. I learned from this internship that, while I could absolutely be happy and fulfilled in this line of work following graduation, I want to keep looking to find a career that even more fully suits my strengths and passions. Coming to that conclusion has been so valuable.
How did you find your internship?
I googled immigration internships in Utah, found the ILS website, and sent an email. One phone call later, I had an offer.
How did this internship experience contribute to your growth?
I feel more confident in my academic and professional potential following this internship. I learned more about what I am capable of, what I want to do, and that I can accomplish good work. Receiving feedback on real, practical work from a supervisor in the industry gave me the validation and direction I needed to grow in a way that wasn't possible in the classroom.
