Experiential learning for practical skills within immigration law
The immigration clinic seeks to provide students with legal practice opportunities that help them develop the ability to operationalize the law and exercise professional judgment ethically in service of the client. Through hands-on experience representing clients, students learn practical skills such as interviewing, issue spotting, analysis, research and counseling. While the student is primarily responsible for planning and executing all aspects of the legal representation, they are assisted by their clinical professor, who is dedicated to coaching and mentoring them through the professionalization process.
Objectives
The Immigration Clinic's primary objective is preparing students to interview and advise clients effectively on immigration cases. Students learn to integrate their legal preparation with fact-gathering and legal research techniques and become skilled independent practicing attorneys able to identify legal solutions that fulfill clients' needs.
Students who participate in the clinic will:
- Become skilled in interviewing clients from various backgrounds in a legally relevant but client-centered fashion.
- Be able to interview clients either in a second language or with the help of an interpreter and effectively develop rapport and understanding of the client’s legal challenge.
- Structure a case plan to effectively address the legal, administrative and interpersonal challenges of immigration cases.
- Structure an evidentiary plan to meet the burden of proof required for the relief sought by the client.
- Understand jurisdictional and evidentiary requirements.
- Be able to advise clients about their legal options so that they can enact the case plan provided.
- Be able to identify and manage ethical concerns and act accordingly.
- Understand how statutes, procedures, regulations and agencies operate.
- Be familiar with the requirements for asylum, cancellation, family petitions, naturalization, DACA, Detention, VAWA, Refugee protections and other immigration benefits.
- Be able to identify when a non-citizen is subject to either Inadmissibility, Removability or both.
Time commitments
Students enrolling for the first time earn four (4) graded credits. Students work an average of 12-15 hours per week. These hours are divided between independent casework and the following activities:
- Skills/case discussion session: 2 hours weekly per Class Schedule.
- Case supervision session: one-on-one weekly meeting with supervisor (30-60 min).
- Immigration Law Legal Primer: Immigration law practice full-day training during the first two Fridays of the semester to equip students with the legal knowledge and skills to evaluate their clients’ cases and conduct factual/legal investigations to serve their client's legal needs.
Important: Students participating in the clinic for the first time must commit to being available during business hours on Fridays for legal training and client meetings.
Returning students
Students returning for a second semester earn two additional pass/fail credits and are assigned cases the clinic has accepted for full representation. These cases are selected through the clinic’s services or pro bono program referrals. The type of cases varies from semester to semester but can include working on a complex USCIS filing, an immigration bond request or an appellate brief.
Returning students enjoy flexibility in scheduling their clinic hours but must seek the clinic director's approval of their planned schedule.
