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Legal Support Network

For over 40 years, World Relief has been creating church partnerships that support and empower local congregations to serve immigrants and refugees as they grapple with the complexities and hurdles of the U.S. immigration system.  Today, World Relief’s Legal Support Network (LSN) is an affiliate group of about 40 nonprofit Immigration Legal Services sites across the nation who provide access to affordable legal services.

For Dr. Arlita Harris, Executive Director and DOJ-accredited representative of Immigration Center at Western Oaks Church of the Nazarene, being a part of the Legal Support Network directly impacts the quality of immigration legal services her organization can offer the 250 clients they see annually. She said,

Tech support answers our legal back-up questions rapidly and, therefore, helps our clients. Because we are a ministry of the church, we are able to pray with our clients, and help them spiritually as well as financially and legally.

For Westside Community Center that is just beginning their journey as an ILS site, being connected to the Legal Support Network is a great avenue for offering effective and affordable immigration legal services in their community. Ashley DiGiore, who is working toward her DOJ accreditation said,

The closest ILS organization is 20+ minutes away. We have a great deal of immigrants from Spanish-speaking countries, and we know these families are in need of services, support, and guidance. We have spoken with members of the community and other organizations and they are very excited for what this will bring to the community.

APPLY TO THE LEGAL SUPPORT NETWORK

Cost Per Year $1500

How to Join the Legal Support Network

For more information on joining World Relief’s Immigration Legal Support Network whether you hope to provide or are already providing affordable immigration legal services, please complete the following:

  1. Read the one-page summary of what the Immigration Programs team offers

  2. Read the Church Leaders’ Launch Guide

  3. Complete the Sustainability Assessment

  4. Complete the Application Form

  5. Wait to be contacted by a World Relief staff member

headshot of Jeanne Funk

Meet Jeanne Brennan Funk, Esq. who serves as the National Immigration Programs Legal Training and Technical Assistance Manager.

Jeanne has practiced family-based immigration since 2002. Prior to joining World Relief, Jeanne represented clients in family-based immigration cases, naturalization and humanitarian relief including VAWA and U Visas as a solo practitioner. She has also worked with NH Catholic Charities and the International Institute of NH as a VAWA/U-Visa attorney. She has been an invited trainer regionally and nationally including for AILA’s National Conference, the Federal Bar Association’s Immigration Conference, and CLINIC trainings. Jeanne received her B.A. from Villanova University and her J.D. from Northeastern University. She has served on the NH Human Trafficking Collaborative Task Force, the Greater Manchester Committee Against Domestic Violence, and the NH Attorney General’s subcommittee on Immigrants and Domestic Violence.

Upcoming Immigration Law Trainings

General information:

World Relief Immigration Legal Services Technical Unit is pleased to offer intensive, 40 hour immigration law trainings. The trainings are conducted using the curriculum of the Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC). This course will help to provide the necessary training component for individuals who wish to apply for accreditation from the Department of Justice (DOJ). DOJ recognition and accreditation allows non-attorneys working in DOJ recognized non-profit organizations to practice immigration law. The course will touch on all areas of immigration law and practice focusing on topics most relevant to those serving and representing low-income immigrants.

Training Recommendations:

Due to the requirements of the accreditation application process, we recommend that only individuals with U.S. citizenship, lawful permanent residence, or other long-term immigration status apply for this training.

Additional requirements:

Additional requirements for applying for Department of Justice (DOJ) recognition and accreditation will be discussed during the training week. Participants who pass the take-home test will receive a certificate of completion from the Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC), the authors of the training curriculum. This will help participants in the process of obtaining DOJ accreditation.

Future Trainings

September 12-16, 2022

In-person training in Akron, PA
Mennonite Central Committee
For more information and to register, visit MCC's Immigration Law Training webpage.

World Relief hosts trainings throughout the year.  If you are interested in Basic Immigration Law training (otherwise known as 40 Hour Training), please sign up for our newsletter that announces upcoming trainings. Additionally, if the dates or locations above are not convenient for you, check out Immigrant Legal Resource Center's listing of upcoming Basic Immigration Law Courses. If you are looking for Comprehensive Overview of Immigration Law, see CLINIC's training calendar.

Sign Up for our 40-Hour Training Newsletter
National Immigration Programs team headshots and titles

Didn't find what you're looking for? Email us immigration@wr.org.

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