Reflections on Representing Our Client at Her Asylum Hearing

Truman Chen, ’24, and Tessa Silverman, ’24, represented S, a mother and asylum seeker who fled Cameroon due to political persecution. Truman and Tessa successfully represented S at her final immigration court hearing, where she was granted asylum.

Truman Chen, ’24:

Contributing to our client S’s grant of asylum through this hearing has been the most meaningful experience I’ve had yet as a law student and as a developing attorney. I don’t think any of the work I’ve done in my life has ever been as immediately impactful and transformational as it was for S’s final hearing. I’ve been told that I’ll never forget my first case – so I’m especially grateful that this first case went so well.

Going into this hearing, I felt anxious about my abilities as an oral advocate. As part of our preparation, my clinic partner and I did a number of practice moots. During some of these moots, I remember feeling like I was in unfamiliar terrain and not yet fluent enough in the legal language that would be needed to present S’s case professionally and competently. However, as we got closer to the day of the hearing, I knew that my clinic partner and I were prepared. During the hearing, I was comfortable enough to strategize. I genuinely felt some level of natural ease when conversing with the Immigration Judge. I took advantage of opportunities to frame the conversation before it was the government attorney’s turn to speak and tried to project friendliness and confidence to the judge. I managed to get through the hearing without freezing up, and I’m proud of that. More than ever before, I can see oral advocacy as a part of my professional identity – which has until now been more grounded in my abilities as a writer.

When the judge granted asylum, S was overjoyed and cried with relief. The judge gave her space to take it in and then praised her for her resilience. This resulted in her crying even more. I’m not sure if I’ve ever seen someone so taken over by relief and joy. Watching this, it was is you could feel a new, brighter future coming into existence. It was like her spirit was resurrected. I am grateful that I could be a part of this unforgettable moment and turning point in S’s life. This experience has also encouraged me to reflect on how this might shape the kinds of work I take on in the future. I think it would be difficult for anyone to come away from a successful and meaningful hearing like S’s without some sense that they should continue to do this kind of work.

It’s been such a privilege to work with S and to carry her case across the finish line that I know I have only just begun to appreciate and recognize the ways in which this will shape my interests as a lawyer.

Tessa Silverman, ’24:

Representing S has been far and away the most meaningful experience in my professional life. I will never forget watching S call her son in Nigeria, whom she hasn’t seen for over 11 years, to tell him that she had been granted asylum and that they could begin the process of reuniting in the United States. It was an incredibly emotional scene all around, but what struck me most was witnessing S tell her son, through tears, how excited she was to cook him food and do his laundry. It was overwhelming (I think for all of us) to realize that, with this grant of asylum, S will finally have a chance to do the normal, everyday mom things for her child that most of us take for granted. That clearly means the world to S and her family after so many years of instability, tragedy, and fear. I felt so lucky to be a part of that moment.

My other favorite moment was when the whole clinic came out to congratulate S and celebrate with us. I loved seeing how proud she was to tell everyone about her victory, and it really warmed my heart to see how much the other IRC students genuinely cared about S, despite never having met her. It reinforced for me what a wonderful community we’ve built over the last couple of months, one where we feel connected to each other’s clients and are truly invested in each other’s wins and losses. In my experience, this kind of community is unique to the sort of intensely emotional, mission-driven, relationship-centered work that we are doing in this clinic. That, for me, is a significant factor to consider in thinking about what type of work I want to pursue over the long term.

I feel incredibly grateful for my clinic experience, the sense of community we created, and the relationships I’ve built during this time, and I will carry them with me as I continue to pursue my legal career.