Lauren O’Connell, a final-year law student from Harvard Law School interned at UCT’s Refugee Rights Unit where she was able to learn from the Refugee Rights Unit staff who support, partner with, and advocate for asylum seekers and refugees across South Africa. Over the course of just a few weeks, Lauren had the opportunity to work directly with clients, offering information about the asylum and refugee process, conducting intakes and consultations for newcomers, and advising on best practices for navigating the Department of Home Affairs and other legal processes. She even had the chance to accompany an attorney to children’s court for a small, yet meaningful, glimpse into the judicial systems in Cape Town.

Lauren on her experience at the Refugee Rights Unit:

As an aspiring immigration attorney and advocate for migrant workers and immigrant rights, I am leaving my time at UCT energised by the new information, skills, and training that I gained. Interning with Refugee Clinic offered me unique insight into the similarities and differences between immigration pathways in the United States and in South Africa as well as the geopolitical and socioeconomic issues that shape migration patterns in each country. I am especially grateful to the clients who trusted me with their stories and personal information and were willing to open up about their experiences. I am eager to share what I have learned at the Refugee Clinic with my colleagues and peers in the U.S. and look forward to continuing to collaborate in the future.