Summer Public Interest Fellows 2025

How would you describe your experience?

This summer I interned at Journey's End Refugee Services at the Vive branch. The office is located at the Vive Asylum Shelter in Buffalo and we primarily assist residents with their asylum applications and work permit applications. As an intern I helped compile evidence packets for our clients by researching country conditions and organizing personal exhibits. I also conducted legal research and drafted a written motion to the immigration judge. Additionally, I learned how to conduct my own client meeting. I recently met with a client and I helped her file an I-765 work permit application. We also have a client who has mandatory check-ins with ICE so I attended an ICE appointment with her.

In addition to the immigration specific experiences, I gained general legal office experience. I learned how to update our online case portal by adding new clients and new cases and closing out old cases.

What impacted you the most?

The most impactful part of this internship has been interacting with clients. I have always been interested in pursuing a career in the public interest field because I am eager to use my legal education to directly assist clients in need. Working directly with clients seeking asylum has only strengthened this desire.

Prior to this internship I did not have any experiences interacting with clients in a legal setting. In this position, I learned to communicate legal issues to clients, often times through an interpreter. While challenging at first, this experience taught me the importance of ensuring that I explain myself clearly to clients, and encourage them to ask questions if they have any uncertainties.

In addition to learning the practical skill of interacting with clients, these experiences made me feel reassured that I am passionate about assisting people in need. While it can be mentally challenging at times to hear our client's stories, it was incredibly rewarding to know that my work was going towards helping real people.

What would you like to share with our donors?

I am so thankful for this summer experience and it would not have been possible without public interest funding from Neil A. Pawlowski and the Charles E. Mann Fund.  Throughout the course of my internship I learned so much about the US immigration process that I would not have been able to learn elsewhere. This hands-on experience has helped me gain confidence in my legal skills which will carry over into my coursework and future legal work. I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to work for an organization that is doing such important work in Buffalo.