American Immigration Lawyers Association - WA Chapter
About AILA
The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA)
is the national association of over 10,000 attorneys and law professors who practice and teach
immigration law. AILA Member attorneys represent tens of thousands of U.S. families who have
applied for permanent residence for their spouses, children, and other close relatives to lawfully
enter and reside in the United States. AILA Members also represent thousands of U.S. businesses
and industries who sponsor highly skilled foreign workers seeking to enter the United States in a
temporary or -- having proven the unavailability of U.S. workers -- permanent basis. AILA Members
also represent foreign students, entertainers, athletes, and asylum seekers, often on a pro bono
basis. Founded in 1946, AILA is a nonpartisan, not-for-profit organization that provides its
Members with continuing legal education, information, professional services, and expertise through
its 35 chapters and over 50 national committees. AILA is an Affiliated Organization of the
American Bar Association and is represented in the ABA House of Delegates.
The Washington State Chapter currently has over 275 members across the state of Washington, as well
as in Alaska, Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming. Our chapter serves many functions, including grassroots
immigration advocacy and information sharing to members and local organizations. Our chapter also
maintains close contact with government officials who play an important role in resolving local
immigration issues. The Washington State Chapter hosts continuing legal education seminars and
conferences, organizes a statewide naturalization day, and promotes pro bono efforts.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR CITIZENSHIP DAY NOVEMBER
19!
We are looking for immigration attorneys,
paralegals, interpreters and other volunteers to
assist with CITIZENSHIP DAY, a partnership
between OneAmerica and the Washington State
Chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers
Association (AILA). Citizenship Day will be held
twice during the 2011-12 cycle in November 2011
and in April 2012.
WHEN: Saturday, November 19, from 8:00 a.m. to
5:00 p.m.
SITES: Centralia, Tukwila, Yakima and Pasco
Washington New Americans, a program of
OneAmerica, promotes successful integration by
connecting Legal Permanent Residents to the
information and services they need to
successfully pursue citizenship and become
active members of our community. Citizenship
Days, held in partnership with AILA and
community organizations across the state, offer
assistance with citizenship applications in 8
cities in Washington State. Last year, we had
over 375 volunteers supporting Citizenship Days
and were able to serve 622 individuals at 9
sites across the state! Visit our website
www.wanewamericans.org for more information.
We
need YOU to make Citizenship Day successful!
SIGN UP NOW AT:
http://www.wanewamericans.org/Citizenship_Day_Volunteers
MORE INFORMATION ON VOLUNTEER ROLES:
Volunteer Training: All volunteers will be
required to attend training prior to the day of
the event. Note: If you have attended training
in the past year, you do not need to attend
training to volunteer at the 11/19/11
Citizenship Day event. Training events will be
held the week of November 14th (exact time to be
announced). Trainings will be held via
conference call or in person. If you cannot make
it in person or call in, a video recording of
the training will be available.
Attorneys: Meet one-on-one with clients to
determine eligibility for naturalization, answer
questions, review applications for accuracy,
provide further instructions for follow up or
filing. Attorneys may also review the work of
other attorneys during client checkout. You must
be a licensed attorney to fulfill this role.
ALL
attorney volunteers must have been in practice
for at least 2 years, AND have completed at
least five (5) N-400 applications over the
course of those two years.
Paralegals: Meet one on one with clients to help
complete naturalization forms. Paralegals may
NOT provide legal advice. This could be a great
role for certified paralegals, non-immigration
attorneys, and law students seeking to gain
experience in immigration law.
Interpreters: Interpret verbatim between clients
and paralegals or attorneys and other volunteer
staff. Ensure that clients and
paralegals/attorneys understand each other and
contents of all forms, documents needed for
naturalization. Interpreters may
NOT provide
legal advice except as direct translation of
advice given by attorney. Interpreters of all
languages are welcome, particularly, those with
Spanish, Russian, Somali, Chinese, Korean, and
Vietnamese skills, among other languages.
General Support: Help as directed by Site
Coordinators with set up/take down at facility,
signage, client intake, routing of clients
through the facility, copying and assembling
documents, answering non-legal questions,
passing out information documents, help with
food and drinks for volunteers.
Contact
Jessica@weareoneamerica.org or
meganvogel@dwt.com with any questions
Further information about becoming an AILA member can be obtained by contacting the AILA National
Office at www.aila.org or by calling 202-216-2400.
Mission Statement
The American Immigration Lawyers Association is the national association of immigration lawyers
established to promote justice, advocate for fair and reasonable immigration law and policy, advance
the quality of immigration and nationality law and practice, and enhance the professional development
of its members.
Goals of AILA
AILA has the following goals:
- Increase member participation in advocacy before
Congress, the Judiciary, the Federal Agencies, and the
media, for the immigration-related interests of our
clients and society.
- Enhance the litigation capabilities of the membership
as an important option to ensure the just administration
of our immigration laws.
- Educate the public about the ways in which U.S.
immigration law and policy serves the national interest
by reuniting American families, protecting refugees,
and providing U.S. employers with the specialized skills
they need to remain globally competitive.
- Enhance respect for immigration law, and professional
recognition of immigration lawyers, by government, the
bar, and society.
- Increase the level of knowledge and professionalism,
and foster the professional responsibility, of our members.
- Advance the protection of the public by promoting
consumer protection and authorized representation.
- Promote and support delivery of competent, ethical,
and lawful immigration services by lawyers, authorized
accredited representatives, and pro bono programs.
- Assist members in effectively and competently pursuing
their law practice and enhancing their professional
satisfaction.
- Encourage and facilitate member participation in,
and support for, pro bono services and programs.
Continuing Legal Education
The Washington State Chapter of AILA hosts a free CLE
program for all AILA members every month. This program is
generally held on the First Monday of the Month at:
Perkins Coie, LLP
1201 Third Avenue
48th Floor, Conference Room 7/8/9
Seattle, Washington 98101
You must be a member of AILA to participate in these
programs. If you are not yet a member, please join AILA
today!
Becoming an AILA Member
The American Immigration Lawyers Association provides
three different membership options:
-
Regular AILA Membership: This links to the AILA
application form, with information on dues.
-
Nonprofit Membership: The Washington State waives
chapter dues for all nonprofit members. Attorneys that
are employed on a full-time basis by a registered 501(c)(3)
nonprofit organization and earn less than $43,400 per
annum can apply for reduced membership dues. Nonprofit
applicants must attach a Request for Nonprofit Status
form to their application. Please Note! You must complete
both the regular AILA Membership Application and the
Request for Nonprofit Status form.
-
Student Membership: Student members are welcomed
and encouraged to attend Continuing Legal Education
(CLE) functions.
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