This representation will occur in non-adversarial asylum interviews, adversarial administrative hearings before immigration judges and appeals to the Board of Immigration Appeals or the federal courts, where necessary or appropriate. Students meet and counsel clients and their families and appear as counsel in hearings and appeals at which they introduce evidence, call witnesses and present oral and written arguments on behalf of their clients. During the last academic year, students obtained asylum for clients from Togo, Sierra Leone, Chad, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria and Rwanda. The course focuses on lawyering skills, ethical issues and preparation for the practice of law. In addition, some time is devoted to the doctrine of asylum, international law and the organization and function of international human rights mechanisms.
Students meet at least bi-weekly with their supervising attorney to discuss their cases.