Defend Asylum Together! Essentials of Immigration Law for Effective Pro Bono Representation [CC]

1:00-1:20 pm EST January 25, 2021: Keynote Speaker Trish Refo

Beside the Golden Door: Defending Asylum Seekers in Immigration Court, from CFI to the BIA (and back) 1:30—3:00 pm EST, This session will introduce the concept of "defensive asylum," the presentation and support of an asylum application on behalf of a client who is in removal proceedings. Areas of focus will include: how an asylum seeker ends up before an immigration judge; the anatomy of a removal case, with a spotlight on asylum-specific rules and procedures; the definition of “refugee” that governs asylum and other forms of protection; the role of different types of evidence to prove your case; and legal challenges before the immigration judge. Lauren Cusitello, IJP Legal Director, Ginger Jacobs, Jacobs & Schlesinger LLP, Partner

The Current Asylum Landscape One Week into the Biden Administration: Opportunities and Challenges 3:20—4:20 pm EST, Have you heard about changes in asylum law in the last few years but don’t know how they could impact your pro bono case? This session will teach you how to advocate for your pro bono client during a time of both uncertainty and hope for asylum law. We will discuss policies enacted by the Trump Administration that are most likely to impact pro bono clients referred by the COI and its projects, whether or how they are likely to change during the Biden administration, and how to stay informed in an area of law that remains in flux. Jennie Kneedler, Director of Policy and Pro Bono, COI, Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, Policy Counsel, American Immigration Council, Priscilla J. Orta, Senior Staff Attorney, ProBAR

Bolstering Your Asylum Case: Evidence and Fact Gathering 4:40—5:40 pm EST, The session will focus on asylum case development including tips to fact-gather and build evidence in an asylum case. We will also hear from speakers more about additional resources for evidence gathering in other countries. Laura Egan, Senior Staff Attorney, CILA; Jorge L. Escobedo, Director of Pro Bono Partnerships, Cyrus R. Vance Center for International Justice; Claudia Murga, Legal Pro Bono Consultant, Cyrus R. Vance Center for International Justice; Glykeria Tsiokanou, Justice in Motion

1:00-1:20 pm EST, January 26, 2021: Keynote speaker César C. García Hernández

Effective Advocacy in Immigration Court: Tips from Former Immigration Judges and Seasoned Litigators 1:30 - 2:30 pm EST, This session provides a unique opportunity for volunteers new to the immigration area, as well as experienced practitioners, to hear from former immigration judges and seasoned litigators about the most effective ways to present your case.  Former immigration judges will share their tips on effective (and not-so-effective) advocacy strategies, including persuasive evidence gathering and in-court presentation. A former New York federal prosecutor will discuss her experience representing a detained asylum-seeker in immigration court, and offer practical tips to utilize prior legal experience to your client’s advantage. Lisa Dornell, retired immigration judge; Ilyce Shugall, former immigration judge; Brooke Cucinella, Partner, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett, Laura Peña, COI Pro Bono Counsel

Advocating for Release from Detention & BIA Appeals through Remote Representation 2:50-3:50 pm EST, Opportunities to advocate for immigrants in removal proceedings extend beyond litigation of their cases for asylum or other forms of relief. This panel will explore how pro bono attorneys can provide remote representation to detained adults seeking release on bond or parole, as well as the process for representing a client before the BIA. The speakers will address both the relevant law and procedure that pro bono attorneys need to successfully undertake remote representation for both types of case matters, as well as the types of support available for volunteers through the COI’s projects and the Immigration Justice Campaign. Rosaida "Rochy" Melendez, ProBAR Staff Attorney, Christopher "Kai" Medeiros, IJP Staff Attorney, Gonzalo S. Izquierdo, Staff Attorney, ProBAR, Ilana Greenstein, Senior Attorney, IJC

Trauma-Informed Representation and Advocacy 4:10-5:10 pm EST, Learn how to employ trauma-informed skills in your representation of asylum seekers. This session will cover practical tips on how to work with clients who have endured and survived trauma.  Chloe Walker, Supervising Attorney, CILA, Yasmin Yavar, Senior Staff Attorney, CILA