REMOVAL DEFENSE IN IMMIGRATION COURT EXTERNSHIP
(LAWG-5005) - 2 UNITS

This is a hands-on course designed to help students move towards being practice-ready in the field of removal defense and immigration law. Students enrolled in this course will be placed at a Los Angeles-area non-profit organization engaged in pro bono removal defense in immigration court. This course is a project of the Immigrant Justice Clinic and the Los Angeles Justice Fund.

This three-unit course is comprised of 2 externship units and 1 in-class unit (registered for as two mandatory courses). All three units satisfy experiential learning and immigration concentration requirements, and the two units of organizational placement count toward the pro bono graduation requirement.

The in-class component will introduce students to an overview of the removal system and basics of the practice of immigration law, including court procedure, drafting declarations, motions practice, trauma-informed client relationships, and client interviewing. Students will participate in weekly ''case rounds'' were they will workshop the difficult legal problems or client issues they encounter in their field placements. Students will be graded based on reflection papers, writing assignments, participation in class, and a final simulation of client interviewing and declaration drafting.

The externship will place students at non-profit organizations such as CARECEN, Esperanza, Immigrant Defenders and others. Students will work directly on removal defense cases to defend the organizations' clients in removal proceedings in immigration court and gain valuable skills in client representation and exposure to in-court practice. Placements will offer students the chance to work directly with clients, observe proceedings in immigration court, and make at least one in-court appearance. Students will also have the opportunity to work on a brief or section of a brief that they may later use as a writing sample.

Students must dedicate at least one full day each week of the 13-week semester to their nonprofit placement (no less than 104 hours). The in-class component will consist of 1.5 hours sessions frontloaded in the first eight weeks of the semester.

Students must be accepted into this course by the instructor. Resumes must be received by Kayleen Harman (kayleen.hartman@lls.edu) no later than Monday, July 9, 2018. Interviews may be required.

Pass/Fail:
No

Prerequisites:
(LAWG-4090)  (can be taken concurrently)