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By: Grace Vensel ’25
When I first started my summer internship in the Immigration Program at the Volunteer Lawyers Project (VLP), I had very little knowledge about immigration law. I was worried that my lack of knowledge would hinder my ability to assist the immigration attorneys in my office. However, this did not seem to be an issue at the VLP.
On my first day, my supervisor asked me to complete an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) renewal. At first, I had absolutely no idea what that was, and I didn’t know the first place to start. Luckily, my supervisor walked me through the entire process when I asked for guidance. She explained what an EAD was, and what I had to do to complete the application. It turns out, all I had to do was ask for help! By the end of my second week, I was working on research for an appeal to the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) and starting a green card application for a client who was self-petitioning under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA).
The VLP taught me so much in a short amount of time. Through hands-on experience, I started to learn the basics of immigration law. I also got to know what it’s like to work in the public interest field. I am especially grateful to work alongside knowledgeable, passionate attorneys who advocate for asylum seekers, survivors of domestic violence, and survivors of human trafficking daily.
While the work can be emotionally taxing, it is also extremely rewarding. The highlight of my internship was the client interactions. I met new people from all over the world and I was fortunate enough to hear their stories. It was amazing to see the positive effect that our work had on our clients. I had the opportunity to work on a green-card application for a VAWA self-petitioner. Under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), a noncitizen may be eligible for a green card if they were subject to battery or extreme cruelty by a U.S. citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident parent or spouse. For VAWA self-petitioners, the government requires evidence of abuse to be submitted with your application. We thus had to include a declaration that detailed the abuse that our client faced by her spouse. I remember calling our client for the first time. I had to ask her many personal questions, and I was worried about re-traumatization. Thankfully, I was taught how to take a trauma-informed approach to client interviews, and how to build trust with clients. In the end, we were able to successfully finish our client’s application, and I built a strong relationship with her in the process.
I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to Buffalo Public Interest Law Program, as well as the the family, friends & donors of Charles E. Mann Award who have supported me through the University at Buffalo School of Law Summer Public Interest Funding & Fellowship Program. Without their help, this experience would not be possible. I would also like to thank the Immigration Program at the VLP for allowing me to be a part of their team this summer. I hope to maintain the connections that I have made at the VLP, and I look forward to staying involved with the Buffalo Public Interest Law Program in the future!
Name: Grace Vensel ’25
Fellowship: Buffalo Public Interest Law Program Summer Fellowship & the Charles E. Mann Award
Placement: ECBA Volunteer Lawyers Project, Immigration Office
Location: Buffalo, NY
One important lesson I have learned from this fellowship: “While the work can be emotionally taxing, it is also extremely rewarding… It was amazing to see the positive effect that our work had on our clients.”
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