An introduction to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the role of the Office of the Principal Legal Advisor (OPLA) with a focus on OPLA’s Legal Assistant functions. Interns will learn ICE’s mission and the role OPLA plays in accomplishing it. Interns will be introduced to several Legal Assistant duties and responsibilities and will learn the vital role Legal Assistants play at OPLA.

1. Interns will be able to identify key components of ICE and OPLA as well as understand the Legal Assistant’s role in the organization.2. Interns learn about the types of cases litigated by OPLA and the legal advice it provides Homeland Security Investigations and Enforcement and Removal Operations. 3. Interns will be able to locate files both internally and externally using an automated file system and follow established procedures for relocating files as needed. 4. Interns will be able to process incoming and outgoing mail. 5. Interns will be able to identify the contents of the files used in immigration court proceedings (A-File).6. Interns will be able to identify various types of correspondence and file the correspondence into case files or route them to the appropriate field location for association with the case file. 7. Interns will be able to request, prepare and maintain cases for immigration court proceedings.8. Interns will learn how to accept, review a variety of legal documents received electronically and via postal service.9. Interns will learn how to identify and draft a variety of legal documents under the supervision of an attorney.