What's Going On
Asylum is a legal status that the U.S. government can grant to people who are at risk of harm in their home countries because of who they are—because of their religion, political opinion, sexual orientation, or ethnicity, for example—if the governments in their home countries will not protect them. The process for seeking asylum in the U.S. is complicated and an asylum-seeker is more likely to be granted this form of protection if he or she is represented by a good lawyer who understands the system. Our pro bono legal representation program matches lawyers with asylum-seekers who need help and would not otherwise be able to afford high-quality legal representation.
Where It's Happening
What We're Doing
Our Refugee Representation program provides legal assistance to asylum seekers in the greater Washington D.C., New York City, and Los Angeles metropolitan areas who do not already have legal representation, cannot afford an attorney, and need help with a claim for asylum or other protection-based form of immigration status. We identify clients in need of legal assistance and match them with pro bono counsel to help them through the process of seeking, and ultimately gaining, asylum. Through our representation program, pro bono attorneys are provided with in-depth training, mentorship, and technical assistance throughout their client's case to ensure that they receive the highest quality legal representation.
Join the Work
We're looking for Attorney Volunteers, Interpreter Volunteers, Student Interns, and Medical and Psychological Volunteers to join us in our mission. Learn more about how you can get plugged in at the library post below.
