There is a large unmet need for immigration legal services for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and trafficking. Violent offenders often use the lack of immigration status of the survivor as a control mechanism to keep someone in an abusive relationship. If legal counsel and representation is available locally, then the survivor may have a better chance at survival for herself and children.

Department of Justice, or DOJ, agency recognition and staff accreditation is the certification of nonprofit legal immigration programs and their staff that allows non-attorneys to practice immigration law as authorized representatives. Increasing the number of DOJ recognized agency locations and accredited staff is essential to responding to the immigration legal services needs of immigrant survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault.

During the webinar, we will provide a brief overview of the recognition and accreditation process. We will discuss the eligibility requirements for the R&A program and review topics and format of immigration law trainings. We will be joined by guest speakers who will share their experiences about going through the R&A application process and starting immigration legal services programs at their organizations. Please join this webinar if you would like to learn more about the training and technical assistance that CLINIC will be offering to staff at anti-DV programs in 2021.

If you would like to get substantive immigration law training for accreditation and are interested in applying for staff accreditation in 2021, or you are an attorney wanting a broad overview of immigration law, you are encouraged to enroll in the Comprehensive Overview of Immigration Law, or COIL, course offered in either January or March 2021.

Registration for January's COIL

Registration for March's COIL will open in January 2021. If you haven't already, please sign up to receive the most up-to-date training announcements: https://cliniclegal.org/email

NOTE: This webinar takes place in Eastern Standard Time.