Certified AODs Needed for Remote Consultations
If you are a certified AOD and have time to offer pro bono consultations to respondents in removal proceedings before the San Francisco Immigration Court, click here to sign up. Upon registering, you will receive an e-mail with materials, as well as a video link to a recorded webinar with instructions on how to conduct remote consultations for the AOD Program.
ATTORNEY OF THE DAY TRAININGS
A Guide to Public Benefits for Non-LPRs, 8/17/2021
How to help your client navigate through the maze of public benefits for which they may or may not qualify.
Panelists: Lisa Newstrom, Managing Attorney at Bay Area Legal Aid (Santa Clara County Office), and Malvina De La Canal, Staff Attorney at Attorney of the Day Program
When providing counsel or full-scope legal representation to members of the immigrant community, questions often arise as to whether the receipt of certain benefits will subject them to the public charge rule. Likewise, many immigrants need legal assistance in determining exactly what type of benefits for which they can qualify. This training will provide a brief review of the public charge rule, as well as a detailed explanation of various types of benefits available to non-LPRs at both the state and federal level, so that you can effectively (1) identify when non-LPRs will not be subject to the public charge rule and (2) confirm eligibility for specific public benefits, which may or not be affected by one’s lawful status. The training will also provide updates as to pending legislation in California related to non-LPR eligibility for certain public benefits.
Courtroom Skills and Trial Advocacy, 6/3/2021
Panelists: Ilyce Shugall, Former San Francisco Immigration Judge, and William E. Hanrahan, Former Assistant Chief Immigration Judge
This training provides an overview of how to effectively advocate for individuals in removal proceedings before the Immigration Court. In addition to discussing how to prepare witnesses for testimony, the panelists will highlight how attorneys should focus on key evidence in support of their clients’ claims and how to present opening and closing statements. The training will also review the Federal Rules of Evidence in relation to (1) common objections that may be used at trial; (2) how to elicit direct testimony and (3) laying the foundation for evidence.
Courtroom Skills and Trial Advocacy, 6/3/2021
Panelists: Ilyce Shugall, Former San Francisco Immigration Judge, and William E. Hanrahan, Former Assistant Chief Immigration Judge
This training provides an overview of how to effectively advocate for individuals in removal proceedings before the Immigration Court. In addition to discussing how to prepare witnesses for testimony, the panelists will highlight how attorneys should focus on key evidence in support of their clients’ claims and how to present opening and closing statements. The training will also review the Federal Rules of Evidence in relation to (1) common objections that may be used at trial; (2) how to elicit direct testimony and (3) laying the foundation for evidence.
MPP Parolees: Next Steps and Potential Red Flags to Address
Panelists: Margaret Cargioli, Managing Attorney for the Immigrant Defender’s Law Center, and Luis Gonzalez, Supervising Immigration Attorney at Jewish Family Service of San Diego
This training is focused on assisting individuals placed in the Migration Protection Protocols program who were then paroled into the United States. MPP parolees may have a more complex procedural case, with certain matters that may need immediate remedial action. This training will provide a brief update on the current status of the MPP parole process, highlight a few key differences that set MPP parolee asylum cases apart from those of non-MPP asylum seekers, and review the particular set of documents that should have been served on respondents upon being paroled. The panelists will also discuss motions that may need to be filed, how to identify possible due process violations, and eligibility for employment authorization.
Screening for SIJS: Establishing Eligibility and Explaining Next Steps, 3/15/21
Presenters: Julianna Rivera Maul, Principal at the Law Office of Julianna Rivera, and Ana Moraga Archila, Senior Staff Attorney at Kids In Need of Defense
This training focuses on screening individuals for Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (“SIJS”) eligibility, including practical tips on how to work with children and young adults. The training provides a general overview of the next steps to take with USCIS and in immigration court after obtaining an SIJS predicate order. Finally, the training concludes with an explanation of how AB900 and AB2090 have expanded the ability for individuals to request SIJS predicate orders in California probate courts.
Trauma Informed Practice with Immigrants, PTSD and its Symptoms, and How to Work with Clients that Exhibit Them
Presenters: Johanna Torres, Principal Attorney at The Law Office of Johanna Torres and Janelle Torres, Licensed Mental Health Practitioner
This training provides immigration practitioners with a comprehensive definition of PTSD and encourage attorneys to have a compassionate understanding of PTSD and how their clients might exhibit its symptoms. The panelists provide attorneys with practice pointers to make the attorney/client relationship easier. For example, what to do when your client is experiencing flashbacks during a meeting and becomes very emotional, how to work with a client that has difficulty remembering dates or important events, strategies for working with a client that is distrustful of their attorney and demands constant reassurance, validating your clients' feelings without diving into a therapist role, among other important topics.
THE THIRD COUNTRY TRANSIT BAR: LITIGATION UPDATE AND STRATEGIES FOR ADVOCATES, 7/22/2020
Presenters: Annie Daher and Sayoni Maitra, Staff Attorneys for Center for Gender and Refugee Studies
The Third Country Transit Bar (Transit Bar) is a regulatory bar to asylum for individuals who transit a third country before reaching the southern U.S. border without having applied for and received a denial of protection in at least one transit country. Two different courts have recently found the Transit Bar invalid, but litigation remains ongoing. This webinar recording provides an overview of the Transit Bar, address the status of litigation challenges, and highlight potential strategies for representing asylum seekers who have been or may be subject to the bar.
Attorneys may fill out a form (click button to the right) to request the webinar recording.
ATTORNEY OF THE DAY ON THE DETAINED DOCKETS: UPDATES AND TIPS DURING THE PANDEMIC, 7/30/2020
Presenters: Valerie Zukin, Special Projects Attorney for the Immigrant Legal Resource Center and Katie Kavanagh, Interim Legal Director and Lead Rapid Response Attorney for the California Collaborative for Immigrant Justice.
The webinar recording focuses on changes to the detained dockets during the pandemic (including logistics and IJs), issue-spotting for detained consultations (in particular for individuals with aggravated felony convictions), avenues for release during the pandemic (including local updates regarding Zepeda Rivas v. Jennings, Fraihat v. ICE, Casas-Castrillon v. Dep’t of Homeland Security, and Aleman Gonzalez v. Barr), and the most critical legal resources for detained AODs to have on hand.
Certified AODs may request access to the webinar, PPT slides, and materials by emailing aod@sfbar.org.
EFFECTIVELY SCREENING FOR HUMAN TRAFFICKING, 6/30/2020
Presenter: Aradhana Tiwari, Staff Attorney for the Anti-Trafficking Project at Dolores Street Community Services
This training focuses on (1) Clarifying myths about human trafficking; (2) Identifying labor exploitation and labor trafficking; (3) Learning the broad range of legal remedies available to survivors of trafficking; and (4) Understanding the more subtle ways in which traffickers force, defraud, and coerce survivors into forced labor situations.
Attorneys may request a copy of the presentation slides for this training by emailing aod@sfbar.org.
DRAFTING ASYLUM DECLARATIONS IN THE COVID-19 ERA, 6/29/2020
Presenters: Malvina De La Canal, AOD Program Staff Attorney and Johanna Torres, Principal Attorney at the Law Office of Johanna Torres
This training focuses on drafting declarations for asylum applicants while working remotely. The training provides a review of the essential elements of any asylum declaration, as well as practice tips relating to fact-gathering, working with children, and effective communication with clients.
Attorneys may request access to the webinar and PowerPoint slides for this training by emailing aod@sfbar.org.
AOD program materials
Non-Detained AOD Handbook
Handbook for adult and juvenile non-detained dockets
Detained AOD Handbook
Handbook for detained dockets
AOD Annual Update Form
Annual update form required to be submitted by Feb 1