Student attorneys in this clinic represent noncitizen clients before the federal district courts, courts of appeals, and the Board of Immigration Appeals. In these forums, students advocate for justice for their clients while working to develop favorable precedents on systemic issues affecting noncitizens impacted by the immigration system.
Students can expect to engage in all aspects of research and brief-writing on cases that raise issues involving criminal and immigration law (“crimmigration”), asylum and other forms of humanitarian protection, immigration detention, or the denial of immigration benefits. Students may also conduct policy research and advocacy or participate in impact litigation challenging the policies and practices of the federal government.
Students enrolled in the clinic will be expected to engage in substantial legal research and writing in the clinic, and the pace and demands of the work will vary over the semester. Given the nature of the work, the clinic is best suited for students who have sufficient time in their schedules to dedicate to complex litigation.
Clinic participants will develop skills such as advanced legal research and writing, case theory development, teamwork and collaboration, culturally competent client representation, communication with opposing counsel, time management, and self-evaluation. Students will also be encouraged to critically reflect on the potential and limitations of appellate and impact litigation as a tool for advancing justice.
In addition to a weekly seminar for all students enrolled in the clinic, each case team of students will participate in a weekly conference with the faculty supervisor, where students will take the lead on case planning and documenting progress towards case deliverables. The bulk of students’ time outside class will be devoted to casework. Students will be responsible for collaborating with teammates to perform all necessary casework outside of the weekly conference and the clinic seminar.
This clinic will be offered in spring 2026 as a one-semester clinic for seven credits, and has a pre-requisite of either Immigration Law or the Crimmigration Seminar. Students are also strongly encouraged to take Administrative Law prior to or during their enrollment in clinic. All students enrolled in clinic will be required to attend in-person clinic orientation on Friday, January 9, 2026, in addition to any clinic-specific orientation that the professor may schedule.
P/C: Immigration Law or Crimmigration Law Seminar