E-Learning
In 2012, CLINIC will offer an expanded menu of e-learning courses. These e-learning courses offer flexibility – much of the work can be done anytime during the week when the student chooses to do it. In contrast with CLINIC’s in-person trainings, learning in the online courses rely primarily on individual study and practice rather than on lecture and group learning. The e-learning courses involve a blend of self-directed learning and interaction with both the instructors and the other course participants. The courses last either four or six weeks, depending on the course, and require about four hours of work per week. Much of that work students do on their own schedules. Students learn by taking part in weekly live webinars; completing reading assignments, exercises, and activities each week; and sharing ideas with each other in online discussion forums.
Each week, course participants complete approximately one hour of assigned reading. Some courses will also include optional supplemental readings for those participants who choose to explore a certain topic in greater depth and complete exercises that build on these readings. Participants may also contribute to an online discussion with other course participants – a discussion that takes place in a message board format, so that participants can add their comments at any time of day or night. Every week includes a weekly required 90-minute webinar (see individual course schedules for exact webinar times and dates), during which the instructors may go over material from the previous week; introduce the following week’s topics; and answer questions from participants.
In 2012, CLINIC will offer the following E-learning courses:
Citizenship and Naturalization: This four-week course will cover acquisition and derivation of citizenship as well as the requirements for naturalization, including continuous residence, physical presence, good moral character, oath of allegiance and civics and English language testing requirements. The training also covers disability waivers, the naturalization application process and how to handle denials and appeals.
Dates of ELearning Course:
(1) January 10 - February 7
(2) June 5 - June 26
Legal Skills: This four-week course provides participants an opportunity to learn about and practice many of the legal skills necessary to provide effective representation of clients. Topics covered may include interviewing, case management, legal research, effective writing, and advocating on behalf of clients before USCIS. This training is beneficial for both new legal workers and experienced legal workers who want to further develop their legal practice skills.
Dates of ELearning Course:
(1) January 11 – February 8
(2) June 4 – July 2
Inadmissibility: This six-week course on the grounds of inadmissibility provides an in-depth examination of the concept of inadmissibility, including when and to whom inadmissibility applies. Course participants will study in detail selected grounds of inadmissibility including immigration violations; misrepresentation and false claims to citizenship; smuggling; unlawful voting; crimes; and health-based grounds. Participants will also analyze ethical issues arising from representing clients subject to particular grounds of inadmissibility, as well as effective interviewing and client counseling techniques.
Dates of ELearning Course:
(1) March 14 - April 25
(2) September 26 - November 7
Introduction to Family-Based Immigration: This six-week course will explore the process of gaining permanent residence through a family relationship. Throughout the course, participants will review both the law and procedure for immigrating through a family relationship, including examination and critique of sample application forms. Topics covered will included: immediate relatives and the preference system, retention of priority dates, the Child Status Protection Act, immigrating through marriages, the affidavit of support, adjustment of status and consular processing.
Dates of ELearning Course:
(1) March 13 – April 24
(2) October 16 – November 27
Introduction to Immigration Consequences of Crimes: This six-week course will provide an overview of how to determine whether your client’s criminal record will have an impact on his or her eligibility for a particular benefit under immigration law. The training will cover techniques for screening clients to uncover criminal issues, how to gather criminal records and how to read them. Participants will learn the basic concepts involved in analyzing the immigration consequences of crimes, including differentiating between inadmissibility and deportability; statutory definitions of conviction and sentence; and exceptions to crime-based inadmissibility.
Dates of ELearning Course:
(1) March 15 – April 26
(2) October 11 – November 29
Introduction to Self-Petitioning Under VAWA: This four-week course provides an introduction to VAWA self-petitioning, focusing on eligibility, how, when and where to apply, and how to document VAWA cases. We will also explore the dynamics of abusive relationships and working with survivors of domestic violence. Please note that this course assumes some basic knowledge of family-based immigration
Date of ELearning Course:
(1) September 6 – October 4
Understanding and Preparing Waivers: This four-week course will present information on both the theory and practice of developing and submitting successful waiver applications. Participants will learn what the legal standards of extreme hardship are, how to create a theory of the case, how to marshal the facts of the case, and what kinds of supporting documentation to submit. By the end of the course, participants will be better able to analyze the strengths and weaknesses of specific cases and advise clients on their chances for success. Please note that this course assumes a basic knowledge of the grounds of inadmissibility and deportability.
Dates of ELearning Course:
(1) June 6 – July 11
(2) November 14 – December 19
U Visas for Crime Victims: This four-week course covers the law and procedure of U non-immigrant status for victims of certain crimes. Participants will learn about the eligibility requirements for U status, waivers of grounds of inadmissibility, and strategies for preparing a winning application. The training also covers applying for adjustment of status for U non-immigrants.
Date of ELearning Course:
(1) November 19 – December 17
Course Expectations
Course participants should plan to spend about four hours per week on each of these courses. Participants may do the majority of that work on their own schedules – readings and exercises and the online discussion forum. Each course will include a required weekly webinar; please look at the webinar schedule before registering for a course.
Technical Requirements
Our e-learning webinars are hosted through Adobe Connect. You can listen to the webinars through your computer speakers or by plugging headphones into your computer.
Course Completion
Each elearning course includes a weekly webinar. Participants are required to attend the webinars in person or view recordings of any webinars they have missed.
CLE
CLINIC is authorized by the State Bar of California to provide minimum continuing legal education (MCLE) trainings. E-learning participants are eligible to claim 1.5 hours of MCLE credits per webinar for the webinar component of our e-learning immigration law courses. The certificate of attendance issued at the conclusion of the course will note the CLE hours you earned through webinar attendance. If you are an attorney licensed in another state, please check with your state bar to determine whether this training qualifies for MCLE credit.
Materials
All materials for e-learning courses will be available for download by registered course participants on the CLINIC e-learning website.
Fees
Below is a list of registration fees for e-learning courses. CLINIC cannot issue any refunds for fees once a course has started.
CLINIC Affiliates (members and subscribers)
Four-week course $200
Six-week course $270
501(c)(3) Community-Based Organizations
Four-week course $225
Six-week course $295
Private Attorney
Four-week course $325
Six-week course $425