Student Needs & Immigration Legal Services Intern

Project Rousseau empowers youth in communities with the greatest need to succeed in higher education. We believe that every young person, regardless of their circumstances, deserves the opportunity to pursue their educational goals with dignity and without fear. Project Rousseau provides a holistic range of programs that support young people across all aspects of their lives, including social services, immigration legal services, and academic enrichment.

Through this internship, interns will work directly with students and their families as part of our Student Needs and Immigration Legal Services programs. Interns will support and empower young people as they navigate complex systems, including immigration and social services.

Interns will participate in a wide range of program activities and will work closely with the Immigration Legal Services team in a hands-on, client-facing role. This internship is well suited for candidates who are eager to gain direct experience supporting youth and families while contributing meaningfully to program delivery.

Responsibilities include:

• Interpreting for client meetings and working directly with students/clients in their native language
• Translating documents, including vital records, educational materials, and other important paperwork
• Assisting clients in documenting their personal stories and experiences
• Scanning, organizing, and indexing client documents and supporting evidence
• Supporting clients in applying to social services, educational programs, and other community resources
• Coordinating logistics for essential donations such as food, clothing, and toiletries
• Accompanying clients to appointments, including legal, educational, or social service meetings, and providing in-person support as needed

Qualifications and Requirements:

Skills and Attributes:

• Strong interest in adopting a comprehensive approach to addressing the needs of young people.
• Demonstrated creativity in problem-solving and a knack for innovative thinking.
• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Excellent organizational skills, including time management and record-keeping
• Fluency in a second language (specifically French, Fulani or Persian are high priorities)
• Exceptional interpersonal skills, enabling effective collaboration with young people,
  management, and program staff.

Values and Commitment:

• Deep commitment to social justice and a passion for serving immigrant communities.
• Demonstrated ability to handle complex and sensitive matters with discretion, empathy, and sound judgment.

Hours: 10am-6pm M-F

Dates: June 15th 2026 through August 14th 2026

There is unfortunately no flexibility with respect to internship dates and interns would be required to be in NYC to start their internship on June 15th 2026. 

Format: This is an in-person internship from Project Rousseau's Times Sq. Office. 

This is an unpaid internship, however, Project Rousseau is eager to support students in applying to institutional funding at their university for support to participate. 

Application Deadline: January 30th 2026