| LW.12975 / LW.12976 Professor Yvonne Floyd-Mayers Professor Jojo H. Annobil Open to 3L and 2L students Maximum of 12 students |
Spring semester 5 credits* No prerequisites or co-requisites. However, Immigration Law class is highly recommended. |
Course Description
Students collaborate with experienced attorneys in the representation of detained and non-detained indigent non-citizens facing removal from the United States because of criminal convictions and other immigration law violations.
Fieldwork
Students in the externship will have the opportunity to work one on one with staff attorneys at our partnering organizations. Students are required to complete 14 hours of fieldwork per week. Students will work on every facet of litigation including conducting client interviews, investigating facts, developing case strategy, preparing applications for relief from removal, preparing supporting document packets for submission to Immigration Court, assisting with preparation of witnesses for evidentiary merits hearings, legal research, writing briefs and memoranda of law. Students attend master calendar and individual merits hearings. In addition, 3Ls will have an opportunity to provide direct representation to indigent clients in Immigration Court, under the supervision of their fieldwork attorney.
Seminar
The seminar introduces students to immigration institutions and procedures. We explore the history of deportation and the impact of some of the recent immigration laws. Following a discussion on interviewing and how to develop a theory of the case, students engage in simulated interviewing exercises. During the course of the semester, other stakeholders in the removal process including an immigration court judge, an attorney from the Office of Chief Counsel, Immigration and Customs Enforcement and a criminal defense attorney are invited to share their perspective and roles in the removal process. Guest appearances by a clinical psychologist/social worker and a non-citizen who has been through the immigration removal process help students delve into the human impact of removal. Weekly seminars end with case rounds during which students discuss their ongoing cases.
Application Procedure
Students should submit the standard application, resume and unofficial transcript using CAMS, the online application system. There will be no interview.
* 5 credits include 3 clinical credits and 2 academic seminar credits.