Over the years, a number of law students and graduate students have interned and volunteered at the Human Rights Documentation Exchange. Through an internship with the Human Rights Documentation Exchange, law students have the opportunity to:

• Learn about asylum law and other forms of immigration relief for refugees.
• Learn about the causes, conditions and impact of refugee migration.
• Develop research and writing skills.
• Contribute to the development of U.S. policies that respect the integrity of each country and its people.

Last summer, a law student from the William and Mary College of Law assumed primary responsibility for the Documentation Service for Detained Refugees (link). She was responsible for screening letters from incarcerated refugees, corresponding with them, and identifying the type of assistance each required. If the client needed information to support an asylum claim, she researched and compiled relevant country conditions for that individual. She also provided attorney referrals to other projects and firms, reported abuse of a detainee at a facility to the appropriate organizations, and tracked down clients who have been moved to other facilities without notice. She was also responsible for the administrative aspects of the project such as compiling statistics and maintaining case files. If they choose to do so, law students may meet with law professors on our Board of Directors and local immigration attorneys.

To be considered for an internship please provide a resume and cover letter explaining why you want to intern with the Human Rights Documentation Exchange, your background and experience, and any particular areas of interest such as international law, immigration law, or human rights.

Attn: Refugee Legal Support Service Coordinator
Human Rights Documentation Exchange
PO Box 2327
Austin, Texas 78768
Telephone: 512/476-9841
Fax: 512/476-0130
mail@hrde.org