Center for Immigration Law & Practice

Immigration Center supporters at Anniversary Reception in 2002 The Center for Immigration Law and Practice is a unique partnership between the University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA.) It is a partnership between a public university and a church community to provide legal services to an underserved population of newcomers and to help prepare law students for the ethical practice of immigration law. The Center provides a full range of immigration legal services to low-income newcomers while educating ethical and skillful advocates in immigration law, policy, and practice. The faith community provides the "safe haven" of its premises while the School of Law brings legal expertise, library resources, and additional financial support through the Healy Fund, established to honor the memory of Father James Healy (J.D., Antioch School of Law, 1982.)

June Phillips talks with Adam Meier Originally funded by the ELCA as a pilot project to provide congregation-based immigration services, the Center opened its doors in May 2001 as part of the Jubilee Center of Grace Lutheran Church at 16th and Varnum Streets, NW. Additional funding was provided by grants from various divisions for the ELCA, supplemented by congregations, individual donors, and the Healy Fund. In 2002, Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area--which until 2001 had operated a legal services unit to supplement its refugee resettlement program--retained the Center to provide legal services funded by a United Way grant. In September 2003, the Center began a restructuring process and moved to St. Paul's Lutheran Church at 4900 Connecticut Ave., NW, where the facilities were larger and more conveniently located to the law school.

Natalie Brocklebank UDC-DCSL students gain experience in the multi-faceted field of immigration law by providing:

A review of immigration statutes, regulations, case law, the history of immigration, and policy making in this area;
Clinical practice in asylum, family petitions, and obtaining documentation;
Public policy advocacy; and
Federal litigation assistance.

For more information about the Center for Immigration Law and Practice (CILP), please visit its website at http://www.cilpdc.org.