PRO BONO MENTORSHIP & SUPPORT
Through our three pro bono leads - Asian Pacific Islander Legal Outreach, Kids in Need of Defense, and Legal Services for Children -- we provide mentorship and case support to pro bono attorneys who want to support immigrant children and families. Pro bono attorneys are also able to access the expertise of the Immigrant Legal Resource Center and Center for Gender and Refugee Studies. These pro bono programs increase the collaborative’s capacity to serve individuals threatened by removal from the United States. Our mentorship to members of the private bar also allows attorneys who specialize in other practice areas to engage with the immigrant community and further support our vision of universal representation and the protection of due process rights in the Immigration Courts.
“I think it should be a requirement for all attorneys in private practice to do what we can to close the access to justice gap in real, tangible ways. Sometimes, however, we don’t quite know how to do it; we need a helping hand to guide our efforts. I am grateful to Carol Bisharat for providing me an opportunity to represent two young girls as they seek asylum in the United States, and for offering guidance and assistance whenever I need it as we try to put forth the best possible case for these two incredible clients. It is a privilege to be able to continue doing this work and have the support and guidance of Carol and her team at KIND. One of the girls recently told me that she wants to be a lawyer when she grows up. I can’t think of a better endorsement for the work Carol and KIND do!”