“Without a doubt, this clinic has been one of the most challenging research and writing experiences in law school. We have developed our appellate advocacy skills and learned the intricate workings of immigration law. The most important skill we’ve learned is to put our client first…knowing that our client’s life hung in the balance, it was our job to write a brief that was legally sound, but that still managed to tell our client’s story.”—2007 Student Team
“Our client is filled with so much hope. This fight for her asylum status is one of the most important fights in her life…not getting asylum, withholding or CAT threatens to send her back to Somalia – a country whose political chaos, absence of human rights practices, and open hostility towards women and minorities literally serves as a death sentence. Yet speaking to her on the phone, she is filled with graciousness and gratitude. “Thank you, thank you,” she repeats. “Just one thing,” she will say apologetically, before asking about the likely outcomes of her case. “If you don’t mind,” as she relates her daughter’s excited request to speak to us over the phone.”—Student, 2007 clinic
“Especially where there are numerous issues informing each other in one case, I had to learn to organize, balance and think critically about where each fact belonged. Working on this case has been a test of sifting through various bits to tell our client’s story in a manner that will get him relief…fulfilling my role as an advocate for my client and a writer for an objective (though this term now seems generous) reader at the BIA. These are surely skills that I will carry with me throughout my career and skills whose utilization I hope have presently gained my client relief.”—Student, 2007 clinic
“This clinic served as a terrific learning opportunity for both of us. In addition to providing a solid introduction to black-letter asylum law, our work afforded substantial client contact. Many practitioner skills, such as the ability to successfully interview a non-English speaking client with the aid of a translator, are best—and perhaps only—developed through such actual client interaction. Importantly, students work under the close and supportive supervision of the clinical faculty and with helpful input from other members of the asylum clinic.”—2007 Student Team
"One of the highlights of the summer was finding out that our client [won his appeal]. The clinic experience was very intense because it was so much work but to go through all of that ... this was definitely a great way to have things end."—Student, 2007 clinic
Please direct all media inquiries to the clinical faculty.
