Each season Immigration Equality offices welcome interns, legal fellows, and volunteers. Over the next few weeks, we will be introducing you to some of them with 20 questions. Want to work with us? Find out more here.
Name: Patrick Tindana
Age: 27
School/Major/Year: Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law / 2014
Position: Legal Intern
Office: New York Headquarters
In one sentence, what do you do all day?
I assist Immigration Equality attorneys to draft and file immigration documents; and interview prospective clients, some of who were held at detention centers.
How is that going?
I enjoy the experience.
What are you hoping to accomplish while here?
Apart from helping our clients, I aim to polish my legal research, writing and analysis skills at Immigration Equality.
Where are you from?
I was born in Accra, Ghana and moved to the USA for college in 2003.
Summertime outdoors is ….
Beach, Reading by the Chelsea Piers
Are you in school this semester?
No.
What’s your advice for striking school/internship/life balance?
My internship with Immigration Equality is a full-time, ten week internship. My supervisors are adamant about the legal interns not staying in the office past 5:30 pm. The idea behind this is to encourage effective time management. Of course, if there is a deadline, it is helpful to the team to meet it. Still, we have time to enjoy a social life outside of work. All in all, the work life balance is impressive.
Is mixing school and an internship worth it?
Summers in law school are usually reserved for legal internships. I am happy it worked out this way.
What do you do in your free time?
I am a volunteer writer for ‘Ask Trevor’. I also love to read and walk around New York City.
What are you currently reading?
David Leavitt’s The Indian Clerk and Patti Smith’s Just Kids.
Favorite TV show?
Family Guy
If you had one superpower what would it be?
Flying. Just think how much money you will save on travel.
What’s the most surprising part of your internship?
Even though most of our clients have suffered heinous abuse, they still manage to smile.
What’s the hardest part?
Maintaining my composure and not breaking down after hearing about LGBT persecutions around the world
What’s your interest in immigration rights?
Asylum law interests me because I can help LGBT immigrants who are persecuted in their home countries to get a new lease on life in America.
How did you learn about Immigration Equality?
My law school mentor’s recommendation.
Are you at immigration Equality just for the summer?
Yes
To whom would you recommend an Immigration Equality internship?
Anyone who has an interest in Immigration and human rights law.
What are you planning next after your time with us?
I am looking forward to the year long Mediation Clinic at my law school. I hope to develop my negotiation and dispute resolution skills there.
Great interview….Patrick you have wings already, so just spread them and fly high.