Reflections on Immigration and Asylum Summer Internships
During summer 2024, students Zeshan and Shiva undertook summer internships with the Immigration and Asylum team at Central England Law Centre.
Here they reflect on their time as interns...
10 December 2024
Zeshan
Immigration and Asylum Summer Internship, Summer 2024
"I was fortunate enough to be provided with the opportunity to work as an intern at the Central England Law Centre. I worked in the Immigration and Asylum team. It was certainly an experience that gave me an insightful look into the processes surrounding human rights law. The experience increased my desire to pursue a career in this field.
All of the staff at the Law Centre were extremely friendly and helped me settle in well. It seemed an environment of people who wanted to make a difference in society. My favourite aspect of the internship was the fact that I was able to sit in on client meetings. Clients from diverse backgrounds would attend for a variety of matters. I gained a deep insight into topics such as applications for fee waivers, legal aid, and decision appeals. The meetings were held in a fashion that ensured the client felt comfortable and was able to express themselves adequately. These meetings allowed me to witness social change occurring in real time. It felt like a difference was being made in these people’s lives.
Furthermore, I was taught about legal databases and the ways in which documents paramount to cases were stored. I was also tasked with writing cover letters and attendance notes for clients. The purpose of the cover letter was to contextualise the details of the case and the client’s situation. This was to build a strong argument (generally for the home office) as to why the client should gain the preferred outcome. I was commended on a cover letter I had written. It felt satisfying to know that something I had written would be used as an official legal document in a client’s case.
Specific cases often require legal research to be carried out. I was tasked with assisting a staff member with one such case. This involved conducting research into a specific, nuanced detail of the case to find objective evidence supporting the client. In this case I had to research laws surrounding a foreign jurisdiction to aid the client’s appeal claim. The skills I gained from this task will certainly aid me in my second year at university. Overall, the internship has made me confident in pursuing a career in human rights law."
Shiva
Immigration and Asylum Summer Internship, Summer 2024
“My four weeks at the Central England Law Centre (CELC) have been eye-opening towards the challenges faced by vulnerable individuals wanting to stay in the UK. I can confidently attest that no day has been the same. Each day has been dedicated to a different client with a unique story and this is what kept me engaged throughout the internship. I worked on a range of cases during my time there.
This internship has been a humbling experience but also serves as a reminder of how often we take the little things for granted. After working here for the last few weeks, I feel incredibly privileged that I have never had to flee my country of birth due to persecution, nor have I ever had to worry about my legal status in the UK or lack of documentation such as birth certificates etc. Unfortunately, these are the struggles clients must often deal with.
This experience has been transformative not only for my law career but also my understanding of the immigration and asylum system. Over time I gained confidence in client-facing tasks, and with my knowledge in immigration law improving significantly, I was able to complete tasks more efficiently. The tasks were diverse but unique; they included drafting witness statements, attending client meetings, conducting research of countries and immigration laws, filling in applications as well as overall case management. The immigration and asylum team at CELC welcomed and treated me as a fellow colleague. Although I volunteered throughout the year, the work I did during this internship felt more impactful due to the continuous involvement which the internship allows for.
Overall, this internship has been extremely rewarding personally and professionally. Personally, it is immensely rewarding knowing you’ve helped clients. Professionally throughout my studies of law, I have had the opportunity to experience a range of modules relating to asylum and migration. This internship has provided me with an unparalleled amount of knowledge and real-world experience, something which a module simply cannot replace.”