Pro Bono Opportunity – Assistance for Unaccompanied Minors (October)
- There has been a significant increase in the need for volunteers to assist unaccompanied minors fleeing violence in Central America. The Immigration Court and advocate community are working together to provide these vulnerable young people with information and assistance in understanding the options available to them. The Legal Aid Society and The Door are seeking volunteers for the month of October to assist at clinics with the following tasks:
- Greeting unaccompanied minors and escorting them to court rooms – requires comfort working with children; Spanish ability a plus.
- Spanish interpretation during intake interviews – Spanish ability required; immigration experience a plus.
- Working with unaccompanied minors to complete initial screening questionnaires – requires comfort working with children and victims of trauma; Spanish ability a plus.
- Interviewing children and screening their case for legal merit and eligibility for relief – requires comfort working with children and victims of trauma; immigration knowledge (specifically SIJS experience) OR the ability to commit to at least four volunteer shifts is necessary; Spanish ability a plus.
- Clinic dates are scheduled for October 1, 2, 8, 9, 15, 16, 22, 23, 29 and 30. All shifts are between 8:30am and 12:30pm and volunteers are required to stay for the entirety of their shift. Clinics are located at 26 Federal Plaza, New York.
- To sign up, please email Cynthia Hackett at CMHackett@legal-aid.org. Your email must include:
- “UAM Volunteer Inquiry” in the Subject line
- The Volunteer Role you are seeking to fill (from the above list)
- The date or dates you would like to volunteer
- The firm, law school, or organization you are affiliated with.
- You will receive a confirmation if you are registered for a clinic.
- The organizations intend to arrange for a supervising attorney to certify hours for students who wish to rely on this opportunity for the New York State Bar pro bono requirement. However, please note that any translation/interpretation services or tasks that are not law-related will not count toward the requirement.