What does it take to be an effective advocate for your client? Learning the law is an important part of effective advocacy, but you also need to develop your legal skills: how to look up and read the law; how to effectively interview clients; how to advocate for clients before USCIS.

This intensive two-day training will focus on many of the practice skills necessary to be an effective legal advocate. Through presentations and small and large group exercises, participants will have an opportunity to develop and practice effective interviewing techniques; learn how to do legal research using primary and secondary immigration source books and the internet; identify and critique advocacy strategies; and learn about legal ethics rules and why and how to adhere to them. Participants will also witness a mock adjustment of status interview and discuss strategies for representing clients before USCIS. All participants should bring a current (2010) copy of the Immigration and Nationality Act and 8 Code of Federal Regulations. The trainers for this program are CLINIC attorneys Jennie Guilfoyle and Susan Schreiber, and other local speakers.

The training is for the staff of Catholic Charities and other community-based organizations with IRS 501(c)(3) status, and attorneys and legal staff of private law offices. If you are registering as staff of a community-based organization, you must fax a copy of you IRS 501(c)(3) letter designating your agency as a nonprofit entity to CLINIC at 415-394-8696 to the attention of Chris Ozaki. Your registration will be confirmed upon receipt of this letter. If you are an attorney, please include your state bar number. Payment is by credit card only.

Cost:
$235 per person from CLINIC affiliate staff; $705 cap ($50 materials fee for each additional staff from the same office location)

$260 per person for other non-profit agency staff; $780 cap
($50 materials fee per person for more than 3 attendees from the same office site)

$390 per person for private attorneys and staff

Continental breakfast included. Lunch is on your own.

For more information and to register: www.kintera.org/AutoGen/Register/Register.asp
Space is limited to 40 participants.