In 2013, 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 relies 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 three, four or six weeks, and students may do the course work on their own schedules. Students learn by taking part in weekly webinars; completing reading assignments, exercises, and other activities; and sharing ideas with each other in online discussion forums. Each weekly live webinar is recorded and posted on the course website shortly after the webinar is concluded, so course participants who can't make the live webinar may view the recorded webinar at any time.
To tour a course website and learn more about the components of an e-learning course, please view the video in the corner of your screen. To ensure the video's clarity, please select the "HD" option from the webinar playbar.
In 2013, CLINIC will offer the following E-learning courses:
Administrative Appeals: Legal Theory and Practice Before the AAO and BIA: This three-week course covers the legal theory and procedure involved in filing appeals at the Administrative Appeals Office (AAO) and the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA). Course topics covered include the following: jurisdiction of the AAO and BIA for specific types of appeals; scope of review; filing deadlines; BIA practice rules; preparation of the Notice of Appeal and appeal briefs; and strategy concerns related to filing an appeal.
Dates of E-Learning Course:
November 26-December 17
Citizenship and Naturalization: This four-week course will cover acquisition and derivation of citizenship as well as the requirements for naturalization. The topics covered will include the following: 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 E-Learning Course:
(1) January 8-February 5
(2) July 11-August 8
Ethics: This three-week course covers the sources of legal ethics rules and to whom they apply. Course participants will learn some of the most important legal ethics rules, including the following: duty of confidentiality; issues concerning conflicts of interest among clients; the duty of candor to the tribunal; and the duty of zealous representation. This course is intended for anyone who practices immigration law – attorneys, accredited representatives, and non-accredited staff.
Dates of E-Learning Course:
February 7-28
Fundamentals of Immigration Law and Skills (OVW Only): This four-week course provides an overview of immigration law and practice skills for new legal advocates working with survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. The course will address the following: core concepts in immigration law; the functions of the different agencies carrying out immigration law; and practice skills including interviewing, writing, research and ethics. This course is for OVW grantees only.
Dates of E-Learning Course:
March 29-April 26
Good Moral Character and Naturalization: This four-week course covers the statutory and regulatory requirements for demonstrating good moral character in naturalization cases. Course participants will study the crime-based bars to showing good moral character, including crimes of moral turpitude and aggravated felonies. Participants will also examine the regulatory bars to good moral character, such as failure to register for the selective service, provide child support, or pay income taxes. The course will also explore how to assess the likelihood that a client will be found to lack good moral character under the “residual clause” or as a matter of discretion.
Dates of E-Learning Course:
March 18-April 15
Immigration Case Management: This six-week course provides an in-depth review of the various components of immigration case management systems, including intake systems, case selection, retainer agreements, case tracking, and file maintenance. It provides an opportunity for participants to discuss their case management issues, learn from others, and share best practices. Participants are expected to leave the course with a Case Management Policies and Procedures manual. The course is intended for program directors and staff members looking to create, revise and implement an effective case management system in their agency. It is for both long-standing and start-up immigration programs.
Dates of E-Learning Course:
To be arranged
Inadmissibility: This four-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 the following: immigration violations; fraud and misrepresentation; false claims to citizenship; smuggling; 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:
August 28-September 25
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 include the following: immediate relatives and the preference system; retention of priority dates; the Child Status Protection Act; immigrating through marriage; the affidavit of support; adjustment of status; and consular processing.
Dates of ELearning Course:
(1) February 5-March 19
(2) October 10-November 21
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 E-Learning Course:
October 28-December 9
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 and experienced legal workers who want to further develop their legal practice skills.
Dates of ELearning Course:
January 10-February 7
Selected Issues in VAWA Self-Petitioning (OVW Grantees Only): This four-week course provides participants who have previous training or experience in VAWA cases with in-depth instruction, updated information and an opportunity to further develop the skills necessary to effectively prepare and file self-petitions. Topics covered include developments in eligibility requirements, complex eligibility issues, best practices in preparing and documenting applications, and assessing and responding to Requests for Evidence and denials. The course will also review issues related to inadmissibility, waivers and adjustment of status. This course is for OVW grantees only.
Dates of E-Learning Course:
June 4-July 2
Selected Issues in U Nonimmigrant Status for Victims of Crimes (OVW Grantees Only): This four-week course will cover the law and procedure of U nonimmigrant status for victims of certain crimes. The trainers will discuss the following topics: eligibility requirements for U status; law enforcement certification issues; waivers of the grounds of inadmissibility; strategies for preparing winning applications; applying for family members; extensions of status; travel and adjustment of status for U nonimmigrants. The training materials will include sample U status application packets and inadmissibility waiver requests. This course is for OVW grantees only
Dates of E-Learning Course:
July 9-August 6
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 the legal standard of extreme hardship, 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. Participants will also practice writing an effective cover letter and index of exhibits for a sample waiver application. Please note that this course assumes a basic knowledge of the grounds of inadmissibility and deportability.
Dates of ELearning Course:
(1) May 30-June 27
(2) October 8-November 5
Course Expectations
Course participants should plan to spend up to 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; all webinars are recorded and posted on the course website, so you may view the recording at your convenience if you are unable to attend the live webinar.
Course Completion
Each e-learning 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. CLE credit does not apply to immigration program management training.
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)
Three-week course $165
Four-week course $200
Six-week course $270
501(c)(3) Community-Based Organizations
Three-week course $190
Four-week course $225
Six-week course $295
Private Attorney
Three-week course $290
Four-week course $325
Six-week course $425