Legal Volunteer Refugee

Vera received her BA in Philosophy, Politics and Economics from Oxford University in 2014. She works as an intern for the Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (LGBTI) programme and coordinates Oxford Migrant Solidarity, a group that visits detainees at Camp IRC near Oxford. Vera is fluent in English, German and Spanish and has a good oral and written knowledge of French. To broaden her academic and practical commitment to refugee rights, Vera plans to pursue a master`s degree in human rights next year, with a particular focus on refugees. I became a research and administration volunteer at Refugee Legal in August 2014 and really enjoyed the experience. I originally applied as a volunteer because I really admire the amazing work that Refugee Legal does for asylum seekers and wanted to do something to support their work. I was also interested in gaining some legal experience while working in an area of law that I am passionate about. I worked with a team of friendly and passionate lawyers and volunteers. I am very fortunate to have had the opportunity to learn from incredibly knowledgeable people who are always willing to help. I have done a number of different jobs during my volunteer work and have enjoyed the chance to experiment with a variety of different tasks. A common task that I really enjoy is filling out visa applications with information from previous applications and immigration interviews. I must say that the work I enjoyed involved the most country-specific research tasks.

I love learning about the situation, laws, politics and tensions in different countries and learning about the world while helping asylum seekers has been fantastic. And while volunteering, I had the opportunity to participate in continuing professional development sessions. I believe that the skills I have developed during my volunteer work at Refugee Legal will be very useful for my future career. Volunteering has allowed me to improve my research skills, particularly working on some of the more complex research questions. My very positive experience as a volunteer at Refugee Legal has also confirmed that I would like to continue volunteering to help asylum seekers once I am admitted as a lawyer. Volunteers are accepted when we need to fill gaps in our lists. Thank you for your patience if we cannot involve you immediately. Volunteers play a vital role in helping refugees and immigrants succeed in the United States. The International Rescue Committee (IRC) offers volunteers to work remotely and in person (while respecting COVID-19 precautions). Here`s the process: I believe refugees have the right to dignity and respect for their cultures, traditions and lives before they move.

I don`t think that right still exists in the United States, and I want to work to change the status quo. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis, and new volunteer programs begin two to three times a year. Applications must be submitted by e-mail to the address indicated on the respective application. Learn more about our VA program. Louize Libeert obtained her BA in International Politics and Sociology at City University of London with a specialisation in flight and migration. Her thesis entitled “European Normative Power: The Effect on Turkish Asylum Policy” examines the extent to which accession negotiations have shaped Turkey`s asylum policy. She is fluent in English, French and Spanish with a basic knowledge of Flemish and has lived in the United States, Belgium and the United Kingdom. Fiona is currently reading for her Master`s degree in Refugee and Forced Migration Studies at Oxford University. She received her Bachelor of Arts (Diploma with Honours) from the University of Melbourne in 2012, where she also studied French and Arabic. His degree focused on political science and included an article examining foreign intervention in Libya in 2011 through an analysis of the doctrine of the responsibility to protect.

Since graduation, she has worked as a policy officer for the Australian Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, as well as for the Department of Immigration and Border Protection, where she provided advice on refugee and immigration policies, among others. Previously, Fiona volunteered with Hagar Australia, which supports survivors of human trafficking in Southeast Asia and Afghanistan. Amy Frew is a qualified lawyer and migration officer who started with Refugee Legal in our expedited clinics. Amy had just completed her graduate program, which rotated between a number of organizations (add more on Amy. Link here) from the Goulburn Valley Community Legal Centre to the Melbourne Community Legal Centre and finally from the Human Rights Law Centre. She attends our Monday night service and is an integral part of our team of volunteers. Amy joined Refugee Legal when the new expedited processing was introduced in early 2015. When she thinks about her time at RILC, she says she was really looking for a place where she could volunteer, where she would “make a difference.” Although Amy has extensive experience in various work care centers, she notes that “migrant work is different” from her usual job, and that Sunday clinics in particular are an opportunity to hear “the life story of a client, his struggles and his country.” Amy acknowledges that while volunteering at clinics is “intimidating” at first, it comes with the reward of seeing a deal from “start to finish” and that it`s a unique volunteer experience that “benefits me both as an advocate and as a client.” Jonathan originally graduated from Oxford University with a BA in Modern History and recently completed an LLM in Immigration Law at Queen Mary University of London, where his dissertation focused on the issue of human trafficking and, in particular, the debate over whether humanitarian action has been hampered by anti-trafficking crimes. Jonathan spent over 20 years as a lawyer in the commercial sector before taking his place at the LLM.

Since the realignment of his career, he has also worked with a number of other organisations working in the refugee and migrant rights industry, with a particular focus on assisting detainees and those threatened with deportation. Pauline is a Master`s candidate in International Law at Queen Mary University of London. She holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Law and International Programme Development from the University of London. She is a native speaker of English, Swedish and French and has several years of experience in legal administration. Pauline has a passionate interest in sport and was shortlisted for the qualification competition for the London 2012 Olympic Games. We provide education on immigration law and legal rights that enable the community to obtain unbiased and accessible information about the U.S. immigration system. For those interested in providing research, administrative or paralegal support to Refugee Legal, you can find more information in the Paralegal job description. We foster enriching experiences and opportunities that enhance awareness and mutual understanding among our clients, volunteers, staff and community.

Sally recently completed a Master`s degree in Human Rights Law from Queen Mary University of London. During part of her studies, Sally focused on refugee law. Her thesis focused on the adequacy of the regulation of the British press, with a particular analysis of the rhetoric around refugees and migrants promoted by the British press during the EU referendum, and how this affected both the vote and the subsequent scale of hate crimes in the UK. Sally is a barrister in England and Wales and worked as a barrister in the City of London for several years before starting her LLM. Sally wants to advance her career in the field of human rights and is particularly interested in the plight of refugees. For several years, Sally has provided pro bono support to various human rights NGOs, most recently those dealing with refugees. Virtual Counsel and Advice COI is looking for experienced immigration lawyers to help with ABA Federal Free Legal Answers, an online platform that allows impoverished immigrants to ask questions about their case.