African Services Committee Project

Take advantage of your surroundings by working with one of the largest communities in Northern Harlem, the West African immigrant community. The African Services Committee is a Community Center with a variety of project areas, one of which is community lawyering. Attorneys at the ASC represent West African immigrants in housing court, immigration matters, and other civil legal proceedings. CLS students will help ASC attorneys gather and provide information to clients during open immigration nights and diversity lottery workshops, as well as assist with legal research memoranda for particular cases. Finally, two internship positions are available for 2Ls and 3Ls who are keen to work with ASC during the semester.
Contact: Simone or Zoha
simonegreenbaum@gmail.com
zohakhalili@gmail.com

Iraqi Refugee Assistance Project

This project will partner CLS students with attorneys at major New York firms in order to help Iraqi families currently living in Iraq, Syria, Egypt, or Jordan. Students will work as teams and follow the client’s case through its completion. Students will have the opportunity to interview families (telephonically), assist them with the preparation of submissions to and interviews with UNHCR, IOM, and DHS. Students will research and prepare submissions on particular legal issues.
Contact: Hoda, David or Sayoni
hoda.rifai.basjawish@gmail.com
lepard.david@gmail.com
sayoni.maitra@gmail.com
Note: Trainings for IRAP will take place at a later determined date in September. Please check back.

Immigration Advocacy Project

SIRR volunteers will work on various local projects involving advocacy and direct legal assistance to immigrants/refugees. SIRR volunteers will have the opportunity to work with attorneys from Legal Aid Society's Immigration Law Unit on individual cases concerning immigrant detainees. Duties may include legal research, translation, or general case work. Spanish-speaking students may also participate in the Street Law in Español program, in which students give Know Your Rights presentations to Spanish-speaking immigrants. Students will also be contacted should opportunities arise to work with other organizations supporting immigrant and refugee rights.
Contact: Edward or Darren
ex2105@columbia.edu
daj2115@columbia.edu