Affirmative asylum application LGBTQ clients clinic or study group (5 to 10 clients). Help low-income LGBTQ immigrants who are victims of persecution in their home countries gain legal status in the United States. More than eighty countries have laws that criminalize people who are LGBTQ - with several applying the death penalty. The lucky ones make it to the United States. But without legal status, they face the constant threat of deportation, are unable to work, and cannot access needed benefits related to housing, healthcare, and disability, among other things. Attorneys who submit asylum applications give clients an enduring shot at a stable, safe life in the United States.
The clinic is 5 hours, including 1.5 hours of training, 0.5 hour of case prep, and 3 hours of client meetings. At the clinic, volunteers will help clients to map out their affidavit, complete portions of their application, and create a plan to identify and gather relevant documents. Partnering law firms commit to representing the client to complete their application, and ultimately represent the client at their asylum interview.
The "study group" provides many of the benefits of a clinic, without the scheduling challenges. Volunteers receive their client file 1 week prior to the study group. LSNYC will then come to the firm for 2 hours - consisting of 1.5 hours of training on asylum, and 0.5 hours of consultation about cases. Pro bono attorneys commit to scheduling client meetings within 1 week of the training. LSNYC will return in 4 to 8 weeks for a check in and to review draft affidavits and applications. Partnering law firms commit to providing full representation to the clients, which generally entails an additional two or three meetings to complete a supporting affidavit and the remainder of the application, along with representing the client at their asylum interview.