Clinic - Safe Harbor

Students work in small teams to represent noncitizens in a range of cases affecting their status and entitlements in the United States. Most cases involve requests for asylum or other humanitarian relief, some involved applying for other immigration benefits and some involve defending the immigration status of lawful permanent residents. Students appear either in Immigration Court or before other administrative hearing officers. Students conduct factual investigations concerning their client's history, and in-depth research into the historical, cultural, and political backgrounds of the countries of origin of their clients. Students interview and counsel clients, prepare all applications or petitions required by the administrative process, present the claim before an Asylum officer or Immigration Judge, and, when necessary, draft administrative appeals and seek judicial review in federal court. Seminar Credits: 2.00 The clinic has a weekly seminar in which students are taught specific substantive and procedural law and the lawyering skills necessary to advocate on behalf of immigrant clients, and also addresses the difficult ethical issues that often arise in these cases.

Enrollment Notes:
Students generally enroll for one semester only but may be permitted to enroll for a second semester depending on the needs of the clients and their cases.