Immigration Pro Bono Project
Description:
The Immigration Pro Bono Project aims to provide SLS students with opportunities to support immigrant communities in the Bay Area. Our work advances access to justice in the immigration system and ensures all people – regardless of status – receive critical assistance in navigating their immigration cases.
The Immigration Pro Bono Project partners with Community Legal Services in East Palo Alto (CLSEPA) and the Immigration Institute of the Bay Area (IIBA) to help immigrant community members apply for asylum and other forms of relief. Students work under the supervision of licensed attorneys to screen individuals for eligibility, interview clients about their situations and possible claims for relief, and help them complete immigration forms. Our Project collaborates with the Immigrants’ Rights Clinic to train all participants in the fundamentals of asylum law and trauma-informed interviewing strategies.
Note: Only Spanish-speaking members will participate in IIBA clinics. All members are able to participate in CLSEPA events.
Commitment Required of Members:
The project aims to host one to two application clinics each quarter, depending on partner organizations’ capacity and need. About 10 students will participate in each clinic, which are generally virtual and last between 3 to 5 hours.
Open Membership Spots: 15
Adv. Degree Student Participation:Â Permitted
Winter Start: Not Required; Fall Start Preferred
Eligible for Meeting NYS Bar Pro Bono Requirement: Likely
Language Ability Preference: Spanish Language Proficiency Helpful (And Required for IIBA Clinic Participation)
Project Leaders: Isidro Zuniga Vazquez, Blessing Roland-Magaji