Student Testimonials

RACS often hosts legal interns and volunteers in our team, and we recently had two American law students join us for their summer internship program. Trevin AndersonSoria and Josie Haseman spent their 6 weeks with us assisting our legal clinics, helping to prepare legal submissions and learning the legal issues refugees face in Australia. Their testimonials are below.

Trevin AndersonSoria | My Time at RACS

I have greatly enjoyed my time working with RACS. The sense of community in the offices stems from every person wanting to make a difference, and from the common belief that every human has a right to life with dignity. The team of solicitors, administrators, PLTs and volunteers approach their work with perseverance and treat each client with respect and compassion. They provide each client enthusiastic advocacy which often goes above and beyond.

While at RACS, I had the opportunity to help draft their submission to the Australian Parliament’s Joint Committee on Human Rights, in which we advocated for a federal Human Rights Act. For this project, I researched Australia’s offshore processing of migrants and current policies such as Operation Sovereign Borders, and I wrote about how a federally legislated Human Rights Act would help ensure the human rights of refugees and people seeking asylum in Australia in the future.

I also interacted directly with clients, both over the phone and in person. For example, one day I travelled to RACS’ outreach center in Auburn to help a particularly vulnerable client reapply for Medicare. While generally not something RACS helps with, my supervising solicitor wanted to make sure this client received the medical care they needed. This client had been trying unsuccessfully to reapply for a new Medicare card for months. We were able to get them a new card that day.

RACS serves as a reminder that wherever injustice exists in the world, it is overshadowed tenfold by the endeavors of those advocating for a better way, a kinder way. It’s been said that when we save one life, we save the world - the Refugee Advice and Casework Service has saved the world many times over.

I am honored and humbled to have been a part of their efforts, if only for a few weeks.

Trevin AndersonSoria

Santa Clara University School of Law | 2025 Juris Doctor Candidate

Josephine Haseman | Legal Intern

I just finished up two months working at RACS, where I had the opportunity as a law student from the United States to join the RACS team during my summer break. It’s been an incredible experience. 

Coming into this, I had little experience with the Australian legal system and was prepared to feel a bit out of place. Thankfully, my colleagues at RACS were always ready to answer any questions and work with me through any problem.

Additionally, despite flying halfway across the world, it was hard not to recognize that a lot of the issues facing refugees and people seeking asylum are very similar to the ones at home.

The ethical and moral obligation to try and diminish or solve these problems remains the same regardless of where they are taking place.

Each day, I got the chance to work with the lawyers at RACS and provide people at risk with invaluable legal advice and services. Over time, I got to see some of this work produce real, life-changing results.

I am so proud to have gotten the chance to be a part of this organization and I know this experience will be a strong influence in any work I do in the future.

Trevin and Josie finished up their time at RACS in July. We wish them the very best on their next chapter!