2022 Immigration Law - In-Person
Take a pro bono case from RMIAN in the coming year – Attend for ONLY $75
The need for legal representation in immigration proceedings is greater than ever. Build your skills for defending and advancing the rights of non-citizens in the current legal environment.
In the morning, we will focus on zealous immigration advocacy and practice before the immigration courts, asylum, and working with survivors of trauma. The afternoon sessions will include a variety of topics, including advocating for release from immigration detention as well as advocacy and protections available for children and survivors of crime. We will conclude with a mock immigration court hearing.
Your distinguished faculty witness and navigate the impact of current realities of immigration policy on a daily basis. They will help you acquire and polish your immigration law skills, and ensure your knowledge is current.
The Rocky Mountain Immigrant Advocacy Network (RMIAN) is a nonprofit organization that provides free immigration legal services to children and to individuals in immigration detention. RMIAN provides daily know-your-rights presentations, individual intakes, pro se assistance, and legal representation for those detained at the federal immigration detention facility in Aurora. RMIAN’s Children’s Program represents children and families who have survived abandonment, abuse, persecution, or other violence, and provides technical assistance and community education throughout the state on children’s immigration law issues. Unable to meet the overwhelming need for legal services, RMIAN refers both detention and children’s cases to its network of pro bono attorneys. RMIAN screens pro bono cases, writes referral memorandums, and provides professional liability insurance and a mentor attorney for each pro bono attorney.
Home studies will be available approximately 2-3 weeks following the live program.
For your own safety, the safety of others, and in an effort to provide everyone with the most rewarding in-person meeting and event experiences possible, we request that you attend a CBA, DBA, or CLE meeting or event only if you have been fully vaccinated. Mask wearing is up to personal preference and comfort level. Please be cognizant and understanding of others’ preferences and courteous to all attendees.
Depending on CDC and/or state or local health guidelines, a rise in COVID-19 cases, or other circumstances that may threaten the well-being of our attendees, CBA-CLE reserves the right to convert to a fully virtual event.
If disability accommodations or special assistance are needed, please contact us at [email protected]. Requests must be made at least two weeks prior to the scheduled program.
The program will be submitted for CLE accreditation in Colorado. If you need to seek accreditation in another state, please review the process and requirements for that individual state. CBA-CLE staff can provide a Uniform Certificate of Attendance, and it is the attendee’s responsibility to complete the accreditation outside of Colorado.
8:30 am
Registration and Coffee
9:00 – 9:10 am
Welcome, Introductions, and Overview
Extended by Mekela Goehring, Esq., Executive Director, Jenny Regier, Esq., Pro Bono Coordinating Attorney, Detention Program, Program Co-Chair, and Alyssa Telander, Esq., Pro Bono Coordinating Attorney, Children’s Program, Program Co-Chair, Rocky Mountain Immigrant Advocacy Network
9:10 – 10:30 am
Setting the Landscape: The ABCs of Zealous Immigration Court Advocacy
- Introduction to immigration proceedings
- Overview of ways to win immigration status for your client
- Entering appearance, entering pleadings, MCH v. ICH
- Preparing your clients and witnesses, building a record
- Appellate review
Presented by Laura Lichter, Esq., Lichter Immigration, LLC and Laura Lunn, Esq., Detention Program Managing Attorney, Rocky Mountain Immigrant Advocacy Network
10:35 – 11:25 am
Asylum Law 101
- Overview of asylum, withholding of removal, and protection under the Convention Against Torture
- Preparing evidence for an asylum merits hearing (country conditions, witnesses, experts, and timing)
- Special considerations – impact of recent Attorney General decisions
Presented by Christina Brown, Esq., Law Office of Christina Brown, LLC, and Emily Smith, Esq., Emily L. Smith, Esq.
11:25 – 11:35 am
Stretch Break
11:35 am – 12:30 pm
Working with Survivors of Trauma and Incorporating Equity, Diversity, and Inclusivity (EDI) into Client Practices
- Working with survivors of trauma and individuals in detention
- Cross cultural communication and working with interpreters
- Language matters
Presented by Alicia Conrad, Esq., Staff Attorney, Children’s Program, Cindy Schlosser, MSW, Social Worker, Detention Program, and additional speaker TBD, Rocky Mountain Immigrant Advocacy Network
*To be submitted for 1 EDI credit
12:30 – 1:00 pm
Lunch Break (Lunch is included in your tuition)
1:00 – 1:15 pm
Overview of RMIAN’s Pro Bono Program and Introduction to Afternoon Breakout Sessions
Extended by Jenny Regier, Esq., Pro Bono Coordinating Attorney, Detention Program, Program Co-Chair, and Alyssa Telander, Esq., Pro Bono Coordinating Attorney, Children’s Program, Program Co-Chair, Rocky Mountain Immigrant Advocacy Network
1:15 – 2:05 pm
BREAKOUT SESSIONS – PART 1
SESSION A
How Do I Get Out? Fighting Your Case for Freedom
- Overview of options for release from immigration detention while fighting an immigration case
- Presenting a bond matter before the immigration court
- Nuts and bolts of requesting parole from DHS
- Detention conditions and COVID-19: Current developments in Fraihat v. ICE
- Medical Advocacy
Presented by Edain Butterfield, Esq., Hernandez & Associates, P.C., and Jenn Nelson, Esq., Legal Orientation Program Supervisory Attorney, Rocky Mountain Immigrant Advocacy Network
SESSION B
Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS)
- SIJS Predicate Order
- SIJS Petition, the Visa Bulletin, and Adjustment of Status
Presented by Kathleen Glynn, Esq., Grob & Eirich, LLC, and Kacie Mulhern, Esq., Rocky Mountain Children’s Law Center
2:10 – 3:00 pm
BREAKOUT SESSIONS – PART 2
SESSION C
Fighting Against Deportation While in Detention
- Overview of Withholding of Removal and Protection under the Convention Against Torture and Bars (advanced topics)
- Overview of Cancellation of Removal
- Preparing evidence for the merits hearing
- Special considerations and updates (TBD based on what is most relevant at the time of presentation)
Presented by Courtney Butler, Esq., Elkind Alterman Harston PC, and Conor Gleason, Esq., Senior Staff Attorney, Detention Program, Rocky Mountain Immigrant Advocacy Network
SESSION D
Advocating for Survivors of Crime
- U-Visa overview and updates
- Prosecutorial Discretion requests for applicants for U-Visas, T-Visas, SIJS, and Asylum
Presented by Emily Brock, Esq., Senior Staff Attorney, Children’s Program, Rocky Mountain Immigrant Advocacy Network, Alyssa Reed, Esq., Reed Immigration, LLC, and Sabrina Sameshima, Esq., Staff Attorney, Children’s Program, Rocky Mountain Immigrant Advocacy Network
3:00 – 3:10 pm
Stretch Break
3:10 – 4:10 pm
Model Immigration Hearing
Observe a team of experienced immigration attorneys conduct a master calendar hearing and portions of a merits hearing for an individual applying for asylum, followed by a Q&A session about immigration court practice, and an evaluation of what worked well and what could have been improved during the hearings.
Presented by Aaron Hall, Esq., Joseph & Hall PC, Hans Meyer, Esq., The Meyer Law Office, PC, Shaleen Morales, Esq., Universal Representation Staff Attorney, Detention Program, Rocky Mountain Immigrant Advocacy Network, and Anjali Nanda, Esq., Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP
4:10 pm
Adjourn
4:10 – 5:00 pm
Networking and Refreshments
An opportunity to discuss current case questions and topics.
Facilitated by Faculty members and RMIAN staff
Registration Fees
| Non Member | $519.00 |
| CBA Member | $389.00 |
| CBA Immigration Law Section Member | $319.00 |
| New Lawyer Edge Partner | $194.50 |
| Paralegal or Legal Support Staff | $194.50 |
| Active Military | $194.50 |
| Public Service/Government | $194.50 |
| Yes! I want to take a Pro Bono Case in the coming year | $75.00 |
| Yes! I want to take a Pro Bono Case in the coming year | $75.00 |
| Student Currently Enrolled in Law School | $0.00 |
| CLEACCESSPASS---ELITE Pass Holder | $0.00 |
- General Credits: 7.00
- Ethics Credits:
- EDI Credits: 1.00
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