This session will provide information and insight to managers and supervisors about how to identify burnout or vicarious trauma in themselves and in their staff. Strategies and solutions to prevent collective burnout or vicarious trauma will be discussed. Participants will learn what it looks like to be a leader who strives to prevent burnout or trauma in themselves and their staff and take steps to implement strategies. This session will answer questions like: How does a manager recognize burnout or trauma in their staff? How does burnout and trauma affect staff retention?

On Sept. 13, 2023, Judge Andrew Hanen, a federal judge in the U.S. Southern District of Texas, ruled DACA unlawful. This marked a pivotal point for the state of DACA- which is currently under review by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. With a looming decision, many advocates, practitioners, and Dreamers are left with a question: What’s next for the program? In this session, presenters will provide an overview of the case timeline, current advocacy for DACA, and potential relief, like Deferred Enforced Departure (DED), if the courts find DACA illegal.

You just received a denial of your client’s application or petition, and the clock is ticking. What remedies are available to challenge the denial and how can you pursue them? Is there an appeal you can file, or a motion to reopen or reconsider? If you can do both, which is the best option? This workshop, appropriate for practitioners of all levels, will review the various options available to challenge application and petition denials, and discuss strategic and procedural aspects to consider when deciding on a plan of action.

You have worked hard to prepare your client’s naturalization application and now your client is scheduled for an interview with USCIS. How do you prepare your client for that important day? What if your client is unable to comply with the English and/or U.S. history and civics requirements because of a physical or developmental disability or mental impairment? In this workshop presenters will cover what to expect at the naturalization interview, share tips for preparing clients, and explain the role of the advocate during the interview.

This session is geared for individuals who are attorneys or fully accredited representatives who practice in removal defense. At this session you will have an opportunity to start conversations that promote learning and sharing of effective legal practices and challenges around serving individuals in removal proceedings.

Well-established policies and procedures promote fairness and uniformity in our programs’ operations. The existence of solid policies is consistently identified as an important factor in avoiding staffing problems, technical errors, and more. However, faced with extreme numbers of newcomers with urgent direct representation needs, setting aside time to establish or reevaluate policies feels daunting. This workshop will be a space dedicated to drafting policies and procedures with support from CLINIC’s program management experts.

Over the past few years, many non-profit legal service providers have been inundated with new arrivals, asylum seekers, naturalization applicants, and TPS applicants. Without the capacity to help each person on a one-on-one basis, legal service providers have begun conducting pro se workshops or clinics, allowing some groups of clients to be assisted without the organization having to worry about their capacity to represent everyone. Join CLINIC staff and legal immigration practitioners as they discuss their best practices when conducting pro se workshops or clinics.

There is no shortage of agency updates in immigration law. In this session, speakers will discuss immigration hot topics and updates for 2024. This will include key areas of interest such as the new fee rule, family reunification parole, updated USCIS policy guidance, extension and redesignation of countries for TPS, new DOJ Recognition & Accreditation applications, and more. We will also discuss best practices in your immigration legal practice relevant to these updates.

Are you confused as to exactly when your client can retain an earlier priority date? What about the consequences of the petitioner naturalizing or the beneficiary marrying? What do you need to do when the derivative beneficiary ages out? If a petition is terminated or revoked, can it ever be reinstated? In this session, we will review how priority dates are established, how they can be lost, and under what circumstances they may be retained. We will also discuss the difference between the Visa Bulletin’s Chart A and Chart B, visa retrogression and cross-chargeability.