E-learning Course-Introduction to Immigration Law Practice: A Course for New Practitioners
Presented by: U.S. Department of Justice Office on Violence Against Women (OVW), in partnership with Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc. (CLINIC)
May 24 – July 7, 2017
This six-week e-learning course provides the new immigration practitioner with an overview of immigration law concepts and the practice skills necessary to be an effective advocate. Through readings, webinars, and exercises, participants will learn key concepts and remedies in immigration law and the functions of the different government agencies that carry out the law. Topics covered will include the following: introductory immigration concepts: an overview of family-based immigration; an overview of obtaining permanent residence status; inadmissibility and deportability concepts; overview of removal proceedings; naturalization and citizenship; and other immigration benefits, such as relief for victims of crime and domestic violence, Temporary Protected Status (TPS), and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). The course will also incorporate legal research and client interviewing exercises and ethical issues in the practice of immigration law.
The course starts on May 24th with access to the e-learning course website and week one assignment. Once you receive your user name and password, you may participate in a variety of activities for self-directed learning, including reading assignments, exercises, sample materials to review, quizzes, and discussion questions. The course will be interactive, with opportunities for online and real-time discussion among students, and between students and instructors. The course also includes six webinars conducted on consecutive Wednesdays at 2:00 p.m. Eastern time starting on May 31, 2017. Each webinar lasts approximately 90 minutes, and is recorded and posted on the course website after the webinar is conducted. Although we encourage participants to attend the live webinars each week, you will be able to listen to and view a recording of any webinar you are unable to attend whenever you choose to do so.
Please note that the course is geared toward individuals who have little to no prior immigration law experience and is open to attorneys and advocates.
Course Requirements: Course participants are required to attend or view recordings of the course webinars and complete a weekly exercise in order to receive a course completion certificate at the end of the course.
The instructors for this course will be CLINIC Training and Legal Support Attorneys. For questions about the course content, please contact Kristina Karpinski at [email protected].
Registration: This training is open to Legal Assistance for Victims, Rural Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, Dating Violence and Stalking grantees and partners, as well as recipients of the STOP Violence Against Women Formula Grant Program (STOP) sub grantees. The grantees referenced above will have priority for the training. If OVW Technical Assistance providers and other OVW grantees are interested in participating, they will be admitted if space is available. Space is limited for this training. The deadline for registration is May 31st or sooner if registration is filled. For registration information contact Silvana Arista at [email protected] or (301) 565-4827. Please note that we need the full name and a working email address for each individual taking this course. We will communicate with each registrant via email only, so it is very important that we have the correct name and email address for each registrant. On the registration form, please provide us the name and email address of the individual who will be taking the course.
Register for the training.
Summary Course Outline and Schedule
Week 1, May 24 -31: What is immigration law about; introductory concepts; government agencies involved; legal authority and sources of law; conducting effective client interviews.
Webinar: Wednesday, May 31, 2:00-3:30 Eastern
Week 2, June 1 - 7: Inadmissibility and deportability concepts; waivers of inadmissibility.
Webinar: Wednesday, June 7, 2:00-3:30 Eastern
Week 3, June 8 - 14: Overview of immigrating through family relationships; relief for victims of crimes and domestic violence.
Webinar: Wednesday, June 14, 2:00-3:30 Eastern
Week 4, June 15 - 21: Overview of becoming a lawful permanent resident based on family petitions: adjustment of status and consular processing
Webinar: Wednesday, June 21, 2:00-3:30 Eastern
Week 5, June 22-28: Naturalization and citizenship; credentials for representation – DOJ recognition and accreditation.
Webinar: Wednesday, June 28, 2:00-3:30 Eastern
Week 6, June 29 –July 5: Removal proceedings; temporary status (TPS, deferred action, and DACA); best practices going forward.
Webinar: Wednesday, July 5, 2:00-3:30 Eastern
This project is supported by Grant No. 2014-TA-AX-K028 awarded by the Office on Violence Against Women, U.S. Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed in this program are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women.