A summer legal internship supporting immigrant clients with SIJS and asylum applications, observing immigration hearings, translating documents, and assisting with access to legal and social services in New York City.
Project Rousseau is a nonprofit based in New York City that supports underserved youth and immigrant families through education, mentorship, and legal aid.
As a legal intern, I helped clients draft their asylum and SIJS applications, translated documents, sat in on immigration hearings, and assisted with declarations and legal research. A big part of the role also involved working directly with families—especially younger children—to gather sensitive information and help them through the legal process in a way that felt supportive and clear.
Skills and experiences
Wrote and edited declarations and affidavits for SIJS and asylum cases
Used translation and interpretation tools (like Tarjimly and Language Line Solutions) to work with clients in multiple languages
Researched country conditions to support legal arguments
Helped manage client files and organize supporting documents
Sat in on immigration hearings and learned about courtroom procedures
Communicated with clients—especially young children—about sensitive topics in a careful and respectful way
Real-time problem solving when placed on time-sensitive tasks (e.g., declarations, translations, case-review)
Over the course of my internship, I drafted approximately 10–11 client declarations for both SIJS and asylum cases. Each declaration required careful attention to detail, especially since I was translating from French or Spanish, which was often spoken in dialects dependent on the region that the clients came from. These dialects varied by client, so working slowly through the interview and translation process was important. I regularly revised my drafts based on feedback from supervisors, which helped me sharpen my legal writing and become more confident in organizing sensitive narratives clearly and effectively.
In addition to declarations, I worked with a wide range of legal forms, including the 6-1A, 6-2, 6-3, 6-4, OCFS 3909, and helped put together Memos of Law—documents that are essential to the strength and accuracy of each client’s application.
I independently managed the a caseload of clients—primarily minors seeking SIJS or asylum—including completing legal forms (such as 6-1A through 6-4 and OCFS 3909), drafting declarations, and collecting supporting documentation. I built strong, trusting relationships with clients by meeting with them in person, offering food, and giving them the space and time to process emotionally difficult questions. Despite occasional scheduling setbacks—such as no-shows or last-minute arrivals—I ensured that all materials were submitted on time and handled each meeting with care and professionalism.
Through this work, I strengthened my ability to manage emotionally sensitive conversations while staying organized and responsive under pressure, resulting in fully prepared and timely case submissions for all of my assigned clients.