“REMEMBER, REMEMBER ALWAYS, THAT ALL OF US, AND YOU AND I ESPECIALLY, ARE DESCENDED
FROM IMMIGRANTS AND REVOLUTIONISTS.”
-FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT
My first year of law school I remember WVU hosting a naturalization ceremony, and thinking, “wow, I want to be a part of that.”
Fast forward two years, and I am.
The WVU Immigration Law Clinic, founded in 1996, serves foreign citizens who are facing deportation, asylum, and other immigration proceedings. Currently, there are eight student attorneys working in the clinic, under the supervision of two licensed attorneys. The case load varies significantly each semester (just like a real firm), but working together, on a team, helps to make sure that the load is evenly distributed.
For you first and second years who are considering applying for a clinic in your third year: DO IT. I can’t stress this enough. The clinical experience allows you to put into practice everything you’ve learned in your first two years- say goodbye to the Socratic Method, and hello to real life.
Now, please don’t let my glowing recommendation mislead you- clinic is rewarding, yes, but it is also a challenge. We recently had our first immigration hearing in Pittsburgh, and I would be lying if I told you I wasn’t up most of the night, reviewing my notes and practicing questions from an invisible bench. The stress is there- if you don’t take it seriously, your actions affect real people (not to mention potential malpractice issues.)
Already, this semester, we have an incredibly diverse caseload. From questions ranging the gambit of refugee status, political asylum, and adjustment of status claims, we’ve been there. Of course we don’t always know the answers, but we’re willing to learn: cliche as it may be, everyday, we’re learning something new. And for that, in my last year as a student, I am grateful.
– Prof. James Friedberg, Clinic Founder
(2013 Immigration Law Clinic)
For more information, or to contact the Clinic, click
here.
