This project is complete!

This project has been completed thanks to the efforts of our volunteers.

Visit the Project Directory to check out other projects that still need your help!

completed
Keep Tucson Together

Prep Asylum Seekers in Tucson, Arizona for their Merit Hearings! (Remote Project)

Currently, most of our pro bono asylum clients aren't prepped for their hearings by a lawyer. You can change that!

Posted February 25, 2021

Background & Context

Because of our lack of staff for doing preps, many of our clients testify badly in court, or testify inconsistently. Not only can this hurt a person's chance of winning their case, but can also damage their record for appeal.

Immediate Problem

Most of our asylum clients go to their hearings without being adequately prepped, due to the sheer number of people that we represent pro bono- about 200 asylum seekers, and 700-800 clients in total. We are able to prep a few people, but not very often.

Work & Deliverables

For lawyers familiar with asylum law, we need to conduct phone or video interviews with clients about 1 week before their merit hearings. These meetings should take about 2 hours, in which you will review what we have submitted as evidence, provide a summary of what will happen in court, and emphasize important points in the giving of testimony.

Project Plan

Preparation Phase

  • Review document submissions

Collaboration Phase

  • Interview client

Wrap Up

  • Augment case notes

This project is complete!

This project has been completed thanks to the efforts of our volunteers.

Visit the Project Directory to check out other projects that still need your help!

Additional Information

  • Time Commitment: 1-5 hours
  • Training Provided: Yes
  • Additional Training Details: Huntley Smith, our asylum case manager, can provide training and support. *Spanish speakers are preferred, but we can provide for interpretation!*
  • Site-Preference: Remote
  • Open to Law Students: No
  • Bar License(s) required: Any Bar License
  • Required Languages: None
  • Preferred Languages: Spanish
  • Required Legal Expertise: Immigration
  • Mentoring Provided: Yes
  • Supervision Provided: Yes
Keep Tucson Together

Keep Tucson Together (KTT) is a joint project of the Pima County Public Defender and No More Deaths. We represent anyone in Pima County in removal proceedings before the Immigration Court. Currently, we have over 450 clients in removal proceedings or on appeal.

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