Important Notice - New Final Rule for Recognition and Accreditation
The Department of Justice’s Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) issued a new rule for recognition of nonprofit organizations and accreditation for non-attorney staff serving as legal representatives in immigration proceedings. This rule became effective on January 18, 2017.
See "New DOJ R&A" on Recognition and Accreditation Toolkit homepage for updated information
DOJ Recognition and Accreditation
How can CLINIC help me get the training I need to qualify for initial accreditation?
Applicants for initial accreditation must establish that they have knowledge and experience in immigration law and have taken at least one recent formal overview of immigration law course. CLINIC offers two different training options to meet these requirements, each described below. We also offer monthly webinars on a wide range of immigration law issues, which helps both new and experienced practitioners stay up-to-date with immigration law developments.
Option 1: Multiple Trainings
In option 1, participants taking the shorter overview course will deepen their immigration law knowledge through additional, more detailed core issue trainings.
Overview Training
Introduction to Immigration Law Practice: A Course for New Practitioners
This training fulfills the formal overview training requirement the DOJ requires for initial accreditation. The next training will take place at the CLINIC Convening, where participants who attend each of the 8 workshops in this track will complete the curriculum for the training.
AND
Core Issue Trainings
CLINIC also offers several training courses on core topics in immigration law that particularly benefit a new legal practitioner planning to seek initial accreditation. In particular, we recommend taking at least two of the following courses to ensure that you have a solid foundation in immigration law fundamentals. These trainings are offered at different times throughout the year. To find out what trainings are coming up visit our training calendar.
Inadmissibility
Four-week e-learning course covering concepts of inadmissibility and deportability and providing in-depth coverage of most common grounds of inadmissibility.
Waivers
Four-week e-learning course covering waiver eligibility and how to file a successful waiver.
Introduction to Family Based Immigration
Six-week e-learning course covering all the stages of immigrating through a family-based petition.
Citizenship and Naturalization
Four-week e-learning course covering both acquired and derived citizenship for certain children born abroad, and citizenship through an application for naturalization.
El Paso Family-Based Immigration Law Conference
CLINIC sponsors an annual two-day conference on family-based immigration, which regularly includes speakers from the U.S. Consulate in Ciudad Juarez, and an optional third day visit to the Consulate. Participants new to family-based immigration can attend a pre-conference session reviewing the basics of this area of law. To find out when the next training will be, visit our training calendar.
Note that each e-learning course includes one webinar for each week of the course, as well as self-directed learning activities involving reading, exercises, and a quiz. These additional weekly activities take about two and a half hours to complete.
Option 2: COIL Course
Comprehensive Overview of Immigration Law (COIL)
CLINIC now offers an intensive six-week e-course for the aspiring or new practitioner who is prepared to make the time commitment required to fully participate in this course and complete its requirements.
The Comprehensive Overview of Immigration Law ("COIL") e-course has an accelerated pace, including two 90-minute webinars each week, as well as self-directed learning activities to support each course unit.
Overall, a course participant should expect to spend between 8 and 10 hours each week to attend or listen to recordings of the weekly webinars, and complete the corresponding course activities. Course completion also requires achieving a passing grade on an open-book final exam.
If you have the time to devote to this learning experience, then this course is a great way to quickly learn the fundamentals of immigration law and establish the training background to support an application for DOJ accreditation.
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Enhanced Knowledge via 90-Minute Webinars
CLINIC regularly offers webinars addressing specific issues in immigration law. Webinars cover topics of common interest to immigration legal practitioners, including a review of the latest developments in immigration law and procedure. Visit our training calendar to learn about upcoming webinar trainings.