Remote Legal Support

*NEW* Remote Legal Support Guide: 2nd Edition

Updated: September 14, 2022

       Chapter-by-Chapter:

Support in Delivery: Guides, Toolkits, & Successful Strategies

Updated: March 1st, 2022

The Immigration Advocates Network published the original Remote Legal Support Guide to Nonprofit and Pro Bono Innovation in March, 2020. Since then, we created this resource page to share the latest materials from our partners and experts in the field: 

  • The American Bar Association's Children's Immigration Law Academy published an updated 2021 version of their 2020 Pro Bono Guide which covers covers important skills for working with children and youth in immigration cases including trauma-informed lawyering and interviewing tips and strategies along with sections focused on key forms of relief.
  • The Justice Department's Executive Office for Immigration Review published a memo last month encouraging pro bono representation and asking immigration courts to "accommodate" and "facilitate" pro bono representation.
  • The American Bar Association has a national COVID-19 resource page that provides toolkits, webinars, and informational guides on navigating remote service delivery, court access and rule changes, legal needs, public benefits programs, and pro bono mobilization.
  • The Brennan Center for Justice has published a report summarizing the effects of video technology in judicial proceedings. In addition, they included principles for continued use of remote proceedings.
  • Center for Survivor Agency & Justice has created an interactive data dashboard that demonstrates the economic impact of COVID-19 on domestic and sexual violence survivors, including the advocates that serve them. 
  • The Immigration Advocates Network created this google form that advocates and pro bono attorneys can share with clients. It gives plain-language instructions on how to get on a Zoom, Skype, and Google Meets video call.
  • The Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System at the University of Denver released this report to highlight the innovation occurring during COVID-19 in the courts, self-help centers, legal aid centers, and law/public libraries.
  • The Legal Services National Technology Assistance Project has free trainings and community discussions on how nonprofit legal aid programs can effectively use technology to provide remote legal services. Some of these topics include how to maintain information, create online tools, and implement technology.
  • Namati has published this guide to demonstrate how to provide legal services remotely. It is meant to serve as a practical resource for legal service providers around the world, particularly those in rural areas.
  • The National Center on Law & Elder Rights has a tip sheet that offers examples and suggestions on how to use technology tools to promote remote legal service delivery. They also provide further resources for those that require more information on how to utilize these tools.
  • NTEN has created this guide to promote equity in the nonprofit sector. The three parts include a discussion on how technology can advance equity for staff, how funding can be used to ensure sustainable projects, and how projects can disrupt the nonprofit corporate model. 
  • OneJustice has developed a Remote Clinic Toolkit that provides a project management system, confidentiality best practices, surveys, pro bono models, and data collection strategies for legal service organizations, community based organizations, and advocates.
  • Pro Bono Net has published a summary of useful apps that help with providing virtual legal services. To see that list, please click here. 
  • The Self-Represented Litigation Network has compiled a list of successful programs, innovations, and strategies currently being used in remote legal service delivery.

 

For Advocates and Pro Bono Attorneys

  • IRAP has produced an online comprehensive course for advocates who wish to represent Afghan refugees given the recent crisis.
  • The Ohio Access to Justice Foundation has a COVID-19 Pro Bono Opportunities Guide with tiered pro bono opportunities with Ohio organizations, divided into Full Representation, "Justice Bus" opportunities, virtual clinics, and trainings.
  • Clio has published their 2021 Legal Trends Report, which alludes to demand for remote legal services reaching unprecedented levels, ensuring that new technology-enabled innovations are part of a greater shift towards remote capacities.
  • ASISTA has published a new library that includes local, national, and federal resources from agencies, coalitions, and organizations working to inform survivors on the developments of COVID-19.
  • Bloomberg Law has created several resources related to COVID-19 for advocates and attorneys. The page here includes analysis on legal issues, information on judicial operations, an updated tracker on COVID-19 legislation, labor protections and more. They also offer multiple toolkits.
  • Fastcase has a COVID-19 Resource Hub that gives attorneys and advocates access to resources and legislative updates across news media sources.
  • LexisNexis has provided a free Coronavirus Resource Kit that attorneys in a variety of practice areas can use to manage the COVID-19 crisis.
  • The National Conference of State Legislatures regularly updates this page to inform advocates about bills related to and responding to COVID-19 that have been introduced. There is also a separate page that breaks this down state-by-state, according to topic matter.
  • The National Council of Nonprofits has a page that provides state-by-state resources, technology tools, and more for nonprofits that are preparing and responding to COVID-19. It is regularly updated and allows organizations to input their own experience providing services during the pandemic.
  • The National Legal Aid & Defender Association has a regularly updated page that allows advocates to share resources and find policy developments related to COVID-19 that are impacting the delivery of legal services.

 

Immigration Advocates Network Webinars


Access to these webinars is for members, and membership is free for nonprofit staff and pro bono lawyers. You can join us here.

  • Gain a mastery of the Afghan SIV process via Navigating the Afghan SIV Process. Topics included the Chief of Mission process, I-360 petitions, the employer's role in the SIV process, best practices for communicating with applicants, and more!
  • Celebrate Black History Month with Blackness as an Immigrant Issue. Gain insight into the particular history of Black immigration in America, unspoken truths such as disproportionate deportation rates, and how pro bono and nonprofit staff can better advocate for Black immigrants.
  • Learn how legal empowerment democratizes law and builds the power of directly impacted communities to know, use, shape, and transform the law via Justice Power: Democratizing the Law 

 

Community Education Resources

  • Citizenshipworks is a self-guided interview that can assist you with filling out the citizenship application.
  • The COVID-19 Multilingual Resource Hub is an online search tool that locates resources, guides, and videos by language and category.
  • Immi is a free, online screening tool that can help immigrants in the U.S understand their legal options. The site also contains an information center and can provide referrals to nonprofit legal services organizations. 
  • Immigrants Rising has a COVID-19 resource page that is regularly updated on a google document. It lists several guides and information for undocumented communities around topics such as relief funds, legal rights, support for workers, housing, and more.
  • Informed Immigrant has an online tool that allows advocates and immigrants to quickly find up-to-date information regarding COVID-19 and immigration status.
  • LawHelp.org has several resources, such as referrals to legal aid offices, information about legal rights, court forms, self-help information, court information, and more for your state and community.
  • United We Dream has a COVID-19 resource hub for advocates and immigrants who would like to learn more about DACA renewals and how practitioners can help clients with their cases electronically.

IAN Partners

  • pro bono net
  • american immigration lawyers association
  • national immigration law center
  • unidos us
  • immigration legal resource center
  • immigration legal resource center
  • american immigration council
  • american civil liberties union
  • american immigration council
  • national immigration project
  • the advocates for human rights
  • lutheran immigration and refugee service

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