Jasmine Mehta is a junior political science and philosophy major with a minor in public policy. Since September, she has been a Legal Intern at the Pennsylvania office of HIAS (Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society). Read on to learn about how she found her internship and how it has helped prepare her for a career. 

What was your experience looking for internships and how did you end up in your current role? 

During my sophomore year, Temple Pre-Law Society sent an e-mail about an internship opportunity with a law firm specializing in immigration in Bucks County. I got my footing there, but it was very research-based, and I was looking to do something a little more hands-on.

I went to the CLA alumni event last spring, and through that, I met a retired lawyer who used to work at Troutman Pepper Locke. I told him I’d done a prior immigration internship and really loved it. He referred me to someone who worked at HIAS, who happened to have an internship program available, and I was able to get the position as a legal intern.

Looking for an internship was challenging, especially because many legal internships typically don’t seek out undergraduate students, but the alumni events that CLA offers were really helpful for me.

As a legal intern at HIAS Pennsylvania, what is a typical day for you?

A lot of what I do involves speaking to clients and preparing forms to submit for things like SNAP benefits, EBT cards or replacing lost immigration materials. We’ll have a few refugee families in the office and we’ll prepare their materials with attorneys to be submitted. It’s a lot of hands on work, which I really like. I’m working alongside paralegals, and I’ve been able to connect with a lot of different attorneys. 

How would you describe the work HIAS does?

I would categorize it as a helping hands organization. We use all of our resources to help all communities in Pennsylvania, regardless of socioeconomic status or background. Anybody is welcome, and we’re always looking to help, whether that’s in the form of legal representation, volunteers transporting clients to and from appointments or organizing clothing and food drives. 

How has this internship helped prepare you for a future career?

I have a lot of tasks to complete every week, and figuring out which things needed to be prioritized and taken off the docket first was a challenge. Over time, I’ve learned how to better organize my tasks and identify what needs my attention most. Having to call clients was also a big deal for me at first, but it has helped me grow as a professional communicator.

Where did your interest in immigration law stem from? 

I knew I wanted to go to law school and become a lawyer, but in high school, I took a few classes and participated in events that piqued my interest in immigration law, especially coming from a family of immigrants.

As I was working through my first internship, I realized that I want all the rigorous schooling and training I’ll be going through to go toward something that helps people in communities. I don’t want to bring my skills and my perspective to a large corporation or the entertainment industry; I want to help people who don’t have the same opportunities I’ve had. It has been very rewarding to apply what I’ve learned in classes and clubs to this internship, put it into practice and help people in real-world scenarios. What I get to do, especially in this current political climate, feels very needed right now.

You’ve mentioned wanting to attend law school—do you have a vision for your career? 

I do have a career vision, and it’s very specific: After undergrad, I want to go into law school. From there, I want to become a practicing attorney for little while, and my end goal for that portion of my career is to open my own law firm. When I’m ready to move on from that, I’d like to do something in public service that capitalizes on my legal background. After I’ve done all that, when I’m ready to retire, one of my lifelong dreams is to be an author, so maybe I’ll write a book. I know it’s a lot, and who knows if it’s all going to work out, but that’s what it looks like.