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Get Involved

Pro Bono

ILCM’s Pro Bono Project offers several volunteer opportunities for legal professionals to assist low-income immigrants and refugees with their immigration-related cases. Volunteers provide invaluable assistance that allows clients to obtain life changing remedies. Listed below is a summary of ILCM’s various pro bono opportunities, information about the support our office provides to volunteers, and details about how to get involved.

How to Get Involved

To receive announcements about upcoming trainings and new opportunities for volunteers with legal experience, please fill our survey. We will then add you to our Pro Bono Volunteer and mailing lists.

All pro bono volunteers must have the following:

  • A current (and active) attorney license from a jurisdiction within the United States;
  • A phone number that can be used for client correspondence; and
  • A mailing address that can be used for case-related filings.

**If you are concerned about meeting one of the volunteer requirements listed above, or have questions about volunteering with our Pro Bono Project, please feel free to contact our Pro Bono Manager Tracy Roy at tracy.roy@ilcm.org or our Pro Bono Coordinators Griselda Gurrola-Martinez at griselda.gurrola@ilcm.com and Jannet Caceres at jannet.caceres@ilcm.org to obtain more information.

Volunteer Support Available

ILCM provides volunteers with ongoing support throughout all pro bono matters. Support includes, but is not limited to:

  • Pre-screened cases;
  • Malpractice coverage;
  • Free training and manuals;
  • Intensive mentorship;
  • Interpreter and Translation support if needed;
  • Access to ILCM’s online casework resources;
  • Use of ILCM office space for client meetings;
  • Use of ILCM’s copy, postage, and fax machines for ILCM pro bono matters; and
  • CLE Credit for trainings and pro bono casework.

 

Pro Bono Projects

  • The Citizenship Project
    • Through the Citizenship Project volunteer attorneys represent clients in relation to their citizenship cases. Volunteer attorneys help clients compile applications for citizenship, and attend the citizenship interview with the client. A typical naturalization case requires 15-20 hours for a new pro bono attorney. The Citizenship Project is open to all licensed attorneys. No previous immigration experience is required. Before participating in the Citizenship Project, pro bono attorneys must attend a CLE training in the area of naturalization law hosted by ILCM.
  • The DREAMer Project
    • ILCM is helping with DACA renewal for persons living anywhere in MN whose DACA expires as far out as 6 months from the present.
    • Through the DREAMer Pro Bono Project, volunteer attorneys represent immigrants in their Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) renewal cases. DACA is a program that provides work authorization and deferred action to immigrant youths who have fulfilled certain educational requirements and meet other specified conditions. The DACA application is an administrative process and requires no court experience. A typical DACA case requires approximately 5-7 hours for a new pro bono attorney. No previous immigration experience is required to participate in this project. Before participating in the DREAMer Project pro bono attorneys must attend a CLE hosted by ILCM. All DREAMer Project attorneys receive in-depth training materials, ongoing mentorship, and regular e-mail updates regarding relevant changes in immigration law.
  • The Minnesota Immigration & Refugee Helpline
    • In 2017, ILCM opened an emergency phone resource for community members; the Minnesota Immigrant & Refugee Helpline. The Helpline goes active when an event such as an Executive Order announcement or raid occurs, and there is an influx of requests for information and legal advice from community members. When the Helpline is live community members can call in to talk with an attorney about the relevant subject at that time (i.e. Raid response information, guidance surrounding new Executive Orders or Department of Homeland Security announcements, Know Your Rights information, family preparedness information, information about detention, etc.) To assist with the Helpline Project, we ask that volunteers have an extensive background in immigration law and be prepared to answer Helpline questions without training from ILCM staff.