Advancing the justice mission of the Recognition and Accreditation Program through robust, skills-based training

Catholic Legal Immigration Network (CLINIC) is pleased to announce this court skills training opportunity for partial accredited representatives who want to qualify and apply for full accreditation in order to represent clients in immigration court. The Partial to Full Accreditation Initiative will guide participants through activities, webinars, and readings, and will culminate in a 5-day online court skills training from December 5 - 9 during which the participants will perform direct examinations, objections, re-direct examinations, closing argument and more in small groups! It will teach participants the skills needed to successfully apply for full accreditation and represent clients in immigration court. CLINIC faculty will provide individualized feedback after each performance.

Alumni of our 2020 class shared this feedback:

• "I really cannot say enough about how beneficial this training was for me. I continue to think about the skills that were shared and I really am so grateful to have been able to take part in this program."
• "All the instructors were so great in my opinion. The presentations and plenary discussions were great and illuminating and in our small groups the instructors were both encouraging while giving excellent critique at the same time. I only have positive things to say."
• "I wish you ran this training 6 times a year and it was twice as long :)"

If interested in this opportunity, please:

• Watch the informational webinar (recorded on June 16, 2022) if you did not join live. We recommend watching it before submitting your application. 
• The application is closed. For more information, please contact training@cliniclegal.org.

Applicants will receive notification of their selection status by August 8 and, if selected for this training, your organization must 1) submit a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) detailing the parties’ responsibilities and 2) submit the $325 training fee by August 25.

For a complete timeline of the training requirements, please click here.

To review a sample MOU, please click here.

Prior to attending the court skills training, participants must:

• View webinar recordings on removal defense and program considerations for engaging in removal defense available through an e-learning course online platform.
• Identify an in-house/local attorney or full accredited representative mentor and make arrangements to obtain hands-on experience through shadowing ASAP
• Observe a master calendar or individual hearing in immigration court and submit reflections in writing.
• Study the training materials, including a case file that we will use during the court skills training, and complete a case assessment exercise based on the case file.
• Complete a short writing assignment that can be used as part of your accreditation application.

Other initiative requirements:

• Participate in the online five-day court skills training that will be held via Zoom December 5-9, 2022, from 12:30 to 5 p.m. ET.
• Upon completion of the virtual court skills training, collect documentation towards your application for full accreditation and work with your CLINIC Field Support Coordinator (FSC), to finalize and submit the application to DOJ’s Office of Legal Access Programs (OLAP). CLINIC’s DOJ Recognition and Accreditation Toolkit contains a step-by-step guide to the application process. Specifically, refer to the resource ACTION PLAN for obtaining DOJ Full Accreditation.
• Provide CLINIC a final report upon receiving full accreditation that explains how this in-depth training and full accreditation status impacted you professionally and your organization’s capacity to serve your local immigrant communities. Alternatively, if you do not obtain full accreditation status, your report should explain why you were unable to complete this requirement.

Please use the affiliate support form if you have additional questions.