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NorCal Nonprofit Pro Bono Opportunities

RE: Emergency Humanitarian Parole Applications
To Whom It May Concern:
The Northern California Chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Association is writing this letter in
support of the local Afghan community and their family members abroad who urgently need to be relocated
to the United States.
The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) is the national association of immigration lawyers
established to promote justice, advocate for fair and reasonable immigration law and policy, advance the
quality of immigration and nationality law and practice, and enhance the professional development of its
members. The Northern California Chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, which
services the majority of Northern California counties, currently has more than 1,000 members and is
AILA’s fifth largest chapter. Member attorneys represent tens of thousands of families, U.S. businesses,
foreign students, researchers, entertainers and asylum seekers.
As a chapter and as legal professionals, we will do our utmost to welcome and support all newly arriving
Afghans. As an association that advocates for justice and fair and reasonable immigration law and policy,
our chapter is dedicated to ensuring that our membership of more than a thousand immigration attorneys is
equipped to assist Afghans who arrive through humanitarian parole and other means, through pro bono
efforts, workshops, CLE opportunities for attorneys, and advocacy. Many of our members have already
taken on representation of Afghan individuals and many more have expressed their desire to volunteer their
time to assisting individuals from Afghanistan. The Northern California Chapter of AILA will continue in
its efforts to offer support and encourage its membership to assist recently arrived Afghans.
Sincerely,
Helen Lawrence
Chapter Chair
The Northern California Chapter Board
American Immigration Lawyers Association

PRO BONO OPPORTUNITIES WITH LOCAL NORCAL NONPROFITS
ORGANIZATION: Arab Resource & Organizing Center
PRACTICE AREA: Removal Defense and General Immigration
OPPORTUNITY: Arab Resource & Organizing Center is seeking assistance with
legal services that they provide to Arab and Muslim community members in the
Bay Area. Their legal services range from form-filling and processing to
representing individuals before the Immigration Court and the BIA.
REQUIREMENTS: Attorney, Paralegal, or Law Student volunteers.
Language: Arabic proficiency is preferred.
TO REGISTER: Please send an email with your contact information and a short description of your
practice as well as language fluency to Amira Ahmed amria@araborganizing.org.
Updated Jan. 2021
ORGANIZATION: Justice & Diversity Center
PRACTICE AREA: Removal Defense
OPPORTUNITY: We are looking for attorneys who can take on full scope
representation for San Francisco residents in removal proceedings. There is
technical assistance and mentorship available, and so it’s a great opportunity for
newer attorneys looking to gain experience in immigration court. We are also
looking for attorneys who can assist with BIA appeals, motions to reopen,
emergency stays, and habeas petitions for anyone who is detained and has
sought assistance through the Rapid Response Network.
REQUIREMENTS: Attorney volunteers.
Language: None specified.
TO REGISTER: For pro bono opportunities with SFILDC, please email SFILDC Legal Director Milli
Atkinson at matkinson@sfbar.org.
Updated Jan. 2021
ORGANIZATION: Immigration Center for Women and Children
PRACTICE AREA: General Immigration
OPPORTUNITY: Immigration Center for Women and Children is looking for
interns or volunteers for semester long commitments. There is a 15 hour a week
minimum commitment during business hours.
REQUIREMENTS: Attorney, Paralegal, or Law Student volunteers.
Language: Spanish proficiency is preferred.
TO REGISTER: Please email jess@icwclaw.org to register.
Updated Jan. 2021
PRO BONO OPPORTUNITIES WITH LOCAL NORCAL NONPROFITS
ORGANIZATION: Oasis Legal Services
PRACTICE AREA: Asylum
OPPORTUNITY: Oasis Legal Services is seeking assistance with direct
representation in affirmative asylum cases, including appearances and affidavit
development. This assistance will occur by Zoom, phone, or in person.
REQUIREMENTS: Attorney or Law Student volunteers. High level of client dedication, compassion and
alliance with the LGBTQ+ community. Experience working with survivors of trauma is helpful.
Language: Spanish & Portuguese fluency are helpful but not required.
TO REGISTER: https://www.oasislegalservices.org/get-involved
Updated Jan. 2021
ORGANIZATION: La Raza Centro Legal
PRACTICE AREA: General Immigration
OPPORTUNITY: La Raza Centro Legal is seeking assistance with phone
consultations every 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month from 4:00pm-6:00pm.
REQUIREMENTS: Attorney volunteers with a knowledge of immigration law.
Language: Spanish language proficiency required.
TO REGISTER: email Pilar Eslava at pilar@lrcl.org
Updated Jan. 2021
ORGANIZATION: Justice & Diversity Center
PRACTICE AREA: Removal Defense
OPPORTUNITY: The Attorney of the Day Program provides remote consultations to pro
se respondents seeking legal representation before EOIR. Immigration attorneys provide
phone consultations to pro se respondents, advising them as to their rights and
obligations while in removal proceedings, as well as the specific types of immigration
relief for which they may qualify. Immigration attorneys may also screen the pro se
respondents for employment authorization eligibility and refer them to the AOD
Program for participation in its Remote EAD Clinic. Following the consultation,
attorneys follow up with the Consultees via email to provide a copy of the Justice &
Diversity Center (“JDC”) packet, as well as specific referrals to non-profit organizations
or private attorneys who may be able to take their case. If Consultees do not have an
email address, the AOD Program will text them a link to the JDC packet for easy access.
REQUIREMENTS: Attorney volunteers who primarily practice immigration law.
Language: None specified.
TO REGISTER: For pro bono opportunities with the AOD Program, please email Monica Oca Howell at
mhowell@sfbar.org. In order to sign up for remote consultations, please see here:

Attorney of the Day

Updated Jan. 2021
PRO BONO OPPORTUNITIES WITH LOCAL NORCAL NONPROFITS
ORGANIZATION: UC Immigrant Legal Services Center
PRACTICE AREA: DACA and General Immigration
OPPORTUNITY: UC Immigrant Legal Services Center is seeking assistance with DACA renewals and first
time applications, as well as general intakes and consultations. Assistance will occur by zoom or over the
phone.
REQUIREMENTS: Attorney volunteers with prior immigration experience preferred.
Language: Spanish & Korean fluency are helpful but not required.
TO REGISTER: email Rachel Ray at rachel.ucimm@law.ucdavis.edu
Updated Jan. 2021
ORGANIZATION: Children’s Law Center of California
PRACTICE AREA: Immigration for Youth
OPPORTUNITY: The Children’s Law Center (CLC) represents foster youth in Los Angeles, Placer, and
Sacramento counties. CLC’s immigration unit assists our undocumented foster youth clients. We have a
variety of volunteer opportunities available, ranging from small projects such as Motions to Reopen to
long term representation in applications for status. CLC’s immigration attorneys are available to mentor
and guide pro bono attorneys throughout the entire process.
REQUIREMENTS: Attorney or law student volunteers
Language: Spanish-speaking preferred
TO REGISTER: email Odessa Powers or Kari White at immigration@clccal.org
Updated Feb. 2021
ORGANIZATION: Imani Legal Clinic at UC Davis
PRACTICE AREA: General Immigration
OPPORTUNITY: Imani Legal Clinic is the only operating legal clinic at UC
Davis. Since 2015, Imani legal Clinic has provided patients with free
consultations on health insurance, and are looking to expand and provide
housing and immigration legal services. They are looking for volunteers to be
available for training the legal clinic volunteers during legal consultations.
REQUIREMENTS: Attorney, paralegal, or law student volunteers with prior immigration experience
preferred.
Language: Spanish-speaking preferred
TO REGISTER: email Mili Bhatnagar at mbhatnagar@ucdavis.edu
PRO BONO OPPORTUNITIES WITH LOCAL NORCAL NONPROFITS
ORGANIZATION: San Joaquin College of Law – New American Legal
Clinic
PRACTICE AREA: Removal Defense, Naturalization, General
Immigration
OPPORTUNITY: The New American Legal Clinic at the San Joaquin
College of Law is seeking pro bono volunteers to assist in removal defense,
naturalization interviews, briefing assistance, and many other flexible options.
REQUIREMENTS: Attorney, paralegal, or law student volunteers with immigration fundamentals
preferred.
Language: Spanish-speaking preferred
TO REGISTER: email Linda Barreto at LBarreto@sjcl.edu
ORGANIZATION: NorCal Resist
PRACTICE AREA: General Immigration
OPPORTUNITY: NorCal Resist is a local 501(c)(3) nonprofit that, among
other programs, provides a pro se I-589 asylum and work permit clinics
to the local community. They are seeking the assistance of attorney
volunteers in several ways: (1) as part of the organizing team that
coordinates with other pro se programs, helps develop new training
events, and schedules and coordinates clinics; (2) as clinic volunteers
who are able to use their legal skills to assist folks in a pro se setting,
and (3) for immigration attorneys in particular, as supervisors of
volunteers during clinics.
REQUIREMENTS: Attorney, paralegal, or law student volunteers
Language: No preference
TO REGISTER: email norcalresist@gmail.com with a short description of who you are (attorney,
paralegal, etc)
Updated Feb. 2021

Hello,

I am a member of the board of Directors of the Women’s Building in San Francisco. They Building serves over 25,000 Bay Area women and their families every year, connecting them with social services, community involvement opportunities, the arts, wellness and educational events.

The Building’s greatest need is for immigration attorneys willing to counsel their clientele. Here is the Building’s specific needs:

• Immigration attorneys willing to provide intake-based advice to drop-in clients;
• Ideal times are: 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month from10-12pm;
• Spanish-speaking, or able to provide interpreter; and
• A 3-month commitment; and
• Ideally on a pro bono basis (but they do have other attorneys who charge nominal fees).

The above is the Building’s “wish-list”; they are willing to accommodate other schedules, non-Spanish speakers, etc. That is, any help is appreciated!

Thanks in advance.

Emily Kirby

emilyfkirby@gmail.com

My name is Rachel Kane and I coordinate the East Bay Naturalization Collaborative (EBNatz). API Legal Outreach is the fiscal sponsor.

We are looking for immigration attorneys and BIA staff to volunteer at EBNatz’s upcoming citizenship workshop which will be held on Saturday, June 10th at Hayward City Hall. We have seen an increased demand in our services and thankfully, an increase in volunteers wishing to get involved in our workshops. One area which we are always stretched tight on is immigration attorneys to do consultations and final review of the applications.

If you are interested in helping out or if you know of someone who would be interested, our website is www.ebnatz.org where you can sign up to be on our volunteer list. You can also email me directly at rkane@apilegaloutreach.org.

Please feel free to contact me with any questions!

Thank you for your support,

Rachel

—

Rachel Kane

Coordinator, East Bay Naturalization Collaborative

(fiscal sponsor – API Legal Outreach)

1305 Franklin Street, Suite 410

Oakland, California

rkane@apilegaloutreach.org

510-251-2846

www.ebnatz.org

AILA member volunteer attorneys would be greatly appreciated to help conduct intakes at an East Bay Community Law Center and East Bay Sanctuary Covenant community event in Berkeley.  See below for details and attached for the event flyer.

Location: Le Conte Elementary School Auditorium, 2241 Russell Street, Berkeley, CA 94705

Date: Saturday, March 18th

Time: Please arrive at 9:45 for a brief orientation before the presentation and intakes begin. 

Please RSVP to Khin Chin if you can help out: kchin@cityofberkeley.info or 510-981-5506

For more details about this event, please see: https://www.ailanorcal.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/March-18th-Immigrant-Rights-legal-screening-English-Spanish.pdf