Volunteer Advocates for Immigrant Justice (VAIJ) is a pro bono legal representation project in the Seattle area that offers free legal assistance to detained immigrants seeking asylum or other forms of relief before the immigration courts. VAIJ, a joint initiative of the ABA Commission on Immigration and the Microsoft Corporation is the first formal pro bono legal aid project sponsored by Microsoft.

In collaboration with Microsoft and the ABA, VAIJ is also supported by the law firms of Davis Wright Tremaine; K&L Gates & Ellis; Riddell Williams; Heller Ehrman White & McAuliffe; and Perkins Coie.

The Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), formerly the Immigration and Naturalization Service, detains over 180,000 immigrants, refugees, and newcomers each year: hundreds are in the state of Washington alone. Some of these immigrants have fled persecution, civil war, ethnic conflict, and religious and political persecution. Upon arriving in the United States, they are placed in detention while their cases are brought before the immigration court. Other detainees include long-time residents of the United States, some of whom have committed minor immigration violations and are being held in detention while their cases proceed through the immigration courts.

Immigrant detainees typically have little if any opportunity or resources to secure representation and, as a result, as many as 90% appear pro se in their immigration legal proceedings. The hurdles are insurmountable to many as they attempt to present their asylum claims or request relief to prevent being removed from the United States. Detainees must present their cases, often despite language barriers and without understanding the laws or procedures that apply to their cases. Should they lose, some will be removed to a country where they may face persecution, even death, or where they may be separated from their U.S. citizen families and homes and be removed to countries where they have not resided in years.

VAIJ matches attorneys in the Seattle area with detained immigrants who have claims for relief, ensuring that detainees receive much-needed representation. VAIJ also gives attorneys the opportunity to learn about immigration law and become involved in the advocacy community.

How does Volunteer Advocates for Immigrant Justice work?
VAIJ works together with the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project (NWIRP), the immigration court, and the broader legal community to provide legal representation to those who have claims for relief but are unable to afford to hire private counsel.

NWIRP provides legal rights presentations and initial case-screenings to detained immigrants at the ICE detention facility located in Tacoma, Washington. Following these screenings, NWIRP refers potential cases to VAIJ for a secondary intake process during which VAIJ staff determines whether the case can be placed with a pro bono attorney. The VAIJ project coordinator matches clients with legal volunteers for representation. VAIJ provides in-depth training, mentoring, resources, support, and guidance throughout the duration of each case.

VAIJ staff makes every effort to select cases and tailor procedures to make the most efficient use of the volunteer’s time.

Get Involved with Volunteer Advocates for Immigrant Justice
There are many ways in which interested attorneys, recent law graduates, law students, legal assistants, paralegals and interpreters may participate:

1. Volunteer attorneys represent a case before the immigration court or on appeal before the Board of Immigration Appeals;

2. Recent law school graduates, law students, legal assistants, and paralegals, under attorney supervision, help complete applications, develop supporting documentation and legal memoranda, and prepare applicants to testify at their hearings.

3. Experienced immigration attorneys present training seminars and serve as mentors to VAIJ volunteers.

4. Interpreters and translators assist with bridging the language gap between clients and attorneys and paralegals representing clients before the immigration court.

VAIJ provides liability insurance coverage at no cost to volunteer attorneys working on cases.

Contact:
Juliann Bildhauer, Project Director, VAIJ, 1201 3^rd Avenue, Suite 4800, Seattle, WA 98101, 206/359-6200 Direct, 206/447-1541 fax, Juliann@vaij.org or Ryan McGrath, Project Coordinator, 206/359-6201 Direct.