CLINIC Convening 2025
Grand Hyatt San Antonio River Walk Hotel
May 28 - 30, 2025
What is CLINIC Convening?
CLINIC Convening is CLINIC’s annual conference that brings together legal practitioners, advocates and nonprofit leaders from all over the country to network, learn and gain insight about the current state of immigration law. CLINIC Convening is the only conference that provides a comprehensive education on immigration law, program management and advocacy. We come together not only to educate and share our work in immigration but also to celebrate the impact and contribution of immigrants through this country’s history.
Join 700 immigrant advocates in San Antonio, May 28-30, as we continue protecting the legal rights of immigrant families and promoting their dignity in the Catholic tradition of welcoming the stranger for more than 30 years.
CLINIC Convening 2025 will be an in-person event, held at the Grand Hyatt San Antonio River Walk Hotel, May 28-30, 2025. There is not a virtual option for the 2025 event.
Highlights
- Network with CLINIC affiliates, staff and leaders in the field
- Learn local, state and federal advocacy tools
- Discover new tools in our general skills workshops
- Advanced trainings on immigration law topics
- Specialty trainings for experienced practitioners
- Trainings on sustaining and expanding immigration legal services programs
- Government speakers
- CLE credit hours
- Explore San Antonio
Registration
CLINIC Convening 2025 will be an in-person event, held at the Grand Hyatt San Antonio River Walk Hotel, May 28-30, 2025. There is not a virtual option for the 2025 event. The registration fee includes access to workshop sessions on all three days of Convening, the Welcome Reception on 5/28, breakfasts and refreshment breaks on 5/29 and 5/30, and the Awards Luncheon on 5/29.
Early-Bird Registration Notice
The registration window for the Early Bird rate has ended. However, we will honor the Early Bird rate for eligible CLINIC Affiliates. Early Bird pricing will end February 28.
Only CLINIC Affiliates who paid their 2025 dues by the Jan. 31 deadline are eligible for Early Bird registration rates. These affiliates will receive a link to register in early February.
Cancellations
Cancellation notices must be sent via email to convening@cliniclegal.org. Cancellations will be accepted until Wednesday, May 7th and are subject to a $100 administrative fee. Refunds will not be accepted after May 7th.
Transfers
Transfer requests must be sent via email to convening@cliniclegal.org. Transfers will only be accepted for colleagues within the same organization through May 20th.
Registration Rates
| Type | Rate |
|---|---|
| CLINIC Affiliate Early Bird (CLINIC Affiliates with paid 2025 dues - Feb.15 - Feb. 28) | $450 |
| CLINIC Affiliates (CLINIC Affiliates with paid 2025 dues - Registration rate starting on March 1) | $475 |
| Nonprofit Agency Staff | $600 |
| Government Employees | $600 |
| Law Students | $550 |
| Private Attorneys and Staff | $750 |
Hotel and Travel Information
Grand Hyatt San Antonio River Walk Hotel
600 E Market Street.
San Antonio, TX 78205
(210) 224-1234
Check in: 3 p.m. | Check out: 11 a.m.
The Grand Hyatt San Antonio Riverwalk Hotel offers CLINIC attendees discounted hotel accommodations for $209, plus 18%, per room, per night in applicable taxes. Hotel accommodations are “first come, first served” and may sell out at any time. The CLINIC hotel rate will be available until Monday, May 5, 2025, or until the room block sells out. On May 6, 2025, all unreserved rooms will be released to the general public. Please reserve your hotel room through the CLINIC Convening hotel online reservation page. The reservation link will be available February 2025.
The Grand Hyatt River Walk Hotel is located 9 miles away from San Antonio International Airport (SAT). Taxi service from the airport to the hotel, is available with fares averaging $25-$35. Ride Share services are also available. For more information regarding transportation options in San Antonio, please visit the San Antonio International Airport travel page.
Workshop Tracks
Over three days, industry experts lead workshops for learners of all levels on how to navigate the United States’ complex immigration legal system. More than two dozen workshops on a variety of legal subjects, policy updates and program management tools focus on the following tracks:
- Litigating Before the Immigration Courts
Workshops that focus on the practice of law with cases before the immigration courts and discuss how clients can expose themselves to removal and what you can do about it. Recommended for legal advocates with an existing understanding of the fundamentals of removal proceedings and/or who are already practicing before the courts.
- Securing Access to Immigration Status
Workshops that focus on the practice of law with affirmative cases before USCIS such as family base immigration law and naturalization. Recommended for legal advocates with an existing understanding of the fundamentals of family-based immigration law and/or who already practicing or supporting family based or naturalization petitions before USCIS.
- Upholding Dignity for All
Workshops that take a look at trending topics in immigration law, along with a deep dive into special cases including humanitarian based relief and religious workers. Recommended for legal advocates with an existing understanding of the fundamentals of immigration law.
- Protecting Rights Through Advocacy
Workshops that explore advocacy strategies and policy to protect and defend immigrant communities. Recommended for all advocates with an existing understanding of the fundamentals of immigration law.
- Building Sustainable and Dignified Programs
Workshops that discuss effective strategies around building sustainable and impactful immigration legal services programs. Recommended for anyone who currently oversees immigration legal services programs or supports areas of program management and development for their organization.
Schedule-at-a-Glance
Times are listed using Central Daylight Time in May. The schedule is subject to change with additional sessions added weekly.
- Wednesday, May 28
-
08:00 am - 07:00 pm CLINIC Convening Registration Open
08:30 am - 04:00 pm Equifax ICM (formerly LawLogix) Power User Workshop 2025
(Separate Registration Required; Directions for registration will be sent to registered Convening participants only)10:00 am - 04:00 pm Pre-Conference Workshops (TBD)
04:30 pm - 06:00 pm Welcome Plenary
06:30 pm - 08:00 pm Opening Reception
- Thursday, May 29
-
07:00 am - 07:45 am Mass
07:00 am - 05:00 pm Registration Open
07:45 am - 08:45 am Continental Breakfast Open
08:00 am - 05:00 pm Exhibits Open
09:00 am - 10:30 am Concurrent Workshops
10:30 am - 11:00 am Refreshment Break
11:00 am - 12:30 pm Concurrent Workshops
12:45 pm - 02:15 pm CLINIC Awards Luncheon
02:30 pm - 04:00 pm Concurrent Workshops
04:15 pm - 05:45 pm Concurrent Workshops
- Friday, May 30
-
07:00 am - 07:45 am Mass
07:00 am - 05:00 pm Registration Open
07:45 am - 08:45 am Continental Breakfast Open
08:00 am - 04:00 pm Exhibits Open
09:00 am - 10:30 am Concurrent Workshops
10:30 am - 11:00 am Refreshment Break
11:00 am - 12:30 pm Concurrent Workshops
12:30 pm - 02:15 pm Lunch on Your Own
02:30 pm - 04:00 pm Concurrent Workshops
04:00 pm Exhibits Close & End of Convening
Continuing Legal Education
CLE for Attorney Participants
Certificates will only be distributed to those who attend live workshops. Certificates will be sent approximately three weeks after CLINIC Convening 2025.
This event is currently in the process of applying for continuing Education hours for the Texas State Board of Continuing Legal Education, for up to 15 hours of continuing legal education (CLE) credits, including 3 credit hours in ethics. If you are an attorney licensed in another state, please check with your state bar to determine whether this training qualifies to meet your CLE requirements.
CLINIC is authorized by the State Bar of California to provide minimum continuing legal education (MCLE) training. If you are a California attorney, you are eligible to claim 1.5 hours of MCLE credits for each live workshop you attend, for up to a total of 10.5 credit hours. If you are an attorney licensed in another state, please check with your state bar to determine whether this training qualifies for MCLE credit.
DOJ Accredited Representatives and other nonprofit professionals will receive a certificate of attendance for CLINIC Convening 2025.
CLINIC Events Health Policy
CLINIC makes the health and safety of all conference attendees a priority. We are committed to following all U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines as well as local health and facility protocols to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and will adopt enhanced health and safety measures, as appropriate, at CLINIC Convening 2025. The following minimum standards are currently required for in-person participation.
Attendee Requirements
The following minimum standards are currently required for in-person participation. Note: all requirements are subject to change. Updates to the requirements will be made on the event website, on the CLINIC Events app and will be communicated by email.
- All attendees must agree to CLINIC's Waiver and Release of Liability for Communicable Disease through the CLINIC registration site.
- Currently the state of Texas, the city of San Antonio and all conference venues do not have COVID-19 vaccination or mask requirements.
CLINIC Health and Safety Protocols
- CLINIC will have hand sanitizer available at registration and in workshop sessions.
- CLINIC will utilize a low-contact check-in process at registration.
- CLINIC will ensure hand sanitizer stations are positioned at key high-traffic areas.
- CLINIC will work with the hotel to ensure regular disinfecting and cleaning of high-traffic areas and touch points.
Lily Gutierrez Memorial Fund
In memory of Lily Gutierrez, former CLINIC Regional Director and longtime Board Member, who devoted her life to serving migrants and newcomers, the Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc. has created the Lily Gutierrez Memorial Fund.
Lily Gutierrez, a native of El Paso and accredited immigration representative, was a vital figure in the Catholic Church's work with newcomers for 40 years, working at CLINIC since its inception in 1988 until 1998, and subsequently serving two terms on its board of directors from 2001 to 2007. Her legacy includes the countless individuals she helped immigrate to the United States, the families she reunited who now have made their lives in the United States because of her assistance, the foundation she laid for CLINIC’s network, the charitable immigration programs she established and the working relationships she nurtured with immigration agencies nationwide.
Lily was well-known and well-loved throughout the country. She began her career as an immigration legal services provider with the U.S. Catholic Conference. A familiar face at the ports of entry, she welcomed newly arrived immigrants processed through the U.S. Consulate in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, upon their first entry through the El Paso ports.
She led the resettlement of Vietnamese refugees arriving in El Paso in the late 1970s and became a national expert in the resettlement process throughout the next three decades. She played a lead role in the refugee resettlement program in El Paso, welcoming people from Ethiopia, Cuba, China, Iraq, Iran and many other countries.
Her message was always clear: people are more important than laws; migration is a reality, especially in the U.S.-Mexico border region; and no matter their reason for migrating or immigration status, the human dignity and rights of people must be protected at all costs. CLINIC has chosen to honor Lily’s legacy by extending (in her name) the work she did so devotedly to create charitable immigration programs throughout the nation.
Contributions to the Lily Gutierrez Memorial Fund provide scholarships, covering the cost of registration, to the staff of CLINIC affiliates whose organizational budgets prohibit them from attending CLINIC Convening. Please donate here and add "LG Fund" to the "Memo" field. Thank you for your support.
CLINIC Convening Over the Years
- 2023 - Reunited and Reignited - Phoenix
- 2022 - Power in Community - Virtual
- 2021 - Charting a New Course - Virtual
- 2019 - Laying a Foundation of Justice - Pittsburgh
- 2018 - Defending Hope and the American Dream - Tucson
- 2017 - A Welcoming America for All - Atlanta
Media Policy
To request consideration for press access, send an email to jweitz@cliniclegal.org with your name and publication/organization.
Sponsorship and Exhibiting
CLINIC Convening’s most successful sponsors and exhibitors are organizations that provide resources or services to immigration attorneys, community-based organizations, nonprofits, religious institutions or advocacy groups. Past sponsors and exhibitors have included, but are not limited to:
- Government agencies
- Associations for legal professionals
- Consulates
- National religious organizations
- Immigrant advocacy groups
- Volunteer service organizations
- Legal research subscriptions
- Legal technology
- Translation services
- Visa service providers
For questions, or to become a sponsor, please contact convening@cliniclegal.org.
CLINIC Convening Sponsors
Platinum Advocate
Gold Advocate
Bronze Advocate
