IIBA’s Pro Bono Program partners with individual attorneys and law student volunteers, as well as institutional partners, such as law firms, in-house counsel, and educational institutions to increase our capacity to serve immigrants. Thanks to our Pro Bono Volunteers, IIBA is able to serve hundreds of additional clients every year.
- IIBA holds limited scope workshops throughout the year in collaboration with our institutional partners. While the workshops focus primarily on assisting clients with citizenship applications, we also host workshops in response to anticipated changes in immigration policy, as well as DACA renewal, intake, and work permit workshops. These workshops take place either in-person or virtually on Zoom. All participating clients are represented by IIBA legal staff, and pro bono volunteers have no further responsibility after the workshop.
- If you are a law firm, corporation, or educational institution seeking to partner with IIBA on limited scope workshops, please reach out to probono@iibayarea.org to get on our waitlist.
- Please note that our limited scope opportunities are not generally available for individual volunteers unaffiliated with our institutional partners. If you are an individual volunteer, please see below.
IIBA relies on individual volunteer attorneys and law students to increase our ability to serve the immigrant communities. Legal volunteers, for example, have assisted IIBA caseworkers with asylum and citizenship eligibility screenings. Such opportunities arise on an ongoing basis. Please take a moment to complete this short form, and we will contact you as additional opportunities become available.
Summer Program
Join IIBA during the summer, and gain hands-on experience in removal defense, and humanitarian and family-based immigration law in a collegial, fast-paced, and warm environment.
- Work directly on immigration cases, such as citizenship, relief for survivors of domestic violence and other crimes, DACA, removal defense, and other humanitarian relief cases.
- Assist with case preparation under the direction of a staff attorney. This may include consulting with and interviewing clients, writing client and witness declarations and other documents, compiling evidence, completing immigration applications, and conducting legal and factual research.
- Conduct eligibility screenings and consultations for potential clients.
- Participate in pro bono legal clinics sponsored by IIBA and/or its partners.
- Maintain documents and prepare forms using electronic case management systems.
- Communicate with clients in person, on the phone, and by mail and email.
- Assist with general office responsibilities as needed, including finalizing application packets for submission, scheduling client appointments, maintaining client files, and coordinating special projects.
- Second language proficiency desired, preferably in Spanish.
- Preferably able to commit to 10 or more hours per week during the academic year and 10 weeks of full-time work during the summer.
- Currently enrolled in law school.
- Well-organized, attentive to detail, accurate, and reliable.
- Strong computer skills, with administrative experience preferred.
- Experience interacting with clients and the public in a professional manner.
- Committed to serve and compassionate about issues faced by low-income immigrant communities.
- Gain direct and varied substantive legal experience in a well-respected, collegial immigration law office.
- Receive hands-on supervision and mentoring, and have access to trainings and other learning opportunities.
- If applicable, earn class credit or fulfill community service requirements.
- Give back to the community, and make a difference for Bay Area residents in need.
Please email your resume and a cover letter explaining your interest in working with IIBA to probono@iibayarea.org.
School Year Externships
IIBA welcomes law students as part-or full time externs during the academic year, gaining hands on experience in client consultations, interviews, declarations, legal research, and more. IIBA works with your school to fulfill unit requirements as applicable.
Please email your resume and a cover letter explaining your interest in working with IIBA to probono@iibayarea.org.
Fellowship Sponsorship
The Immigration Institute of the Bay Area (IIBA) invites law students and recent law school graduates to apply for externally-funded legal fellowships, like Skadden and EJW. Fellows will be placed at one of IIBA’s seven offices, where they will support IIBA’s mission by providing immigration legal service, advice, and representation in support of low-income individuals. Fellows may also work on community education, legal clinics and workshops, and other outreach and advocacy activities, depending on the needs of the office and the communities in which they are based. Fellows will benefit from ongoing, hands-on training and mentoring in a collegial atmosphere while they gain hands-on experience in a variety of immigration cases.
IIBA will work with selected candidates to develop and submit proposals for fellowship funding from project-based fellowship programs, law schools, or other sources.
Please check IIBA’s Careers page for open fellowship opportunities.
Pro Bono Toolbox
This toolbox contains resources to support Pro Bono Programming, including workshop packets, planning templates, citizenship intake forms and more.
Donate to IIBA
Immigrant rights are under attack, but IIBA is defending due process and winning cases. Thanks to pro bono volunteers, IIBA helped 500 immigrants through IIBA’s Pro Bono Program last year. With your support, we can continue to serve immigrants through accessible pro bono workshops, and keep families and communities together.
Pro Bono Spotlights
Ana Canenguez
“Volunteering with IIBA has been such a rewarding experience. I get to work with people that I see myself in. I am an immigrant myself. I know how difficult the immigration process is, and I know how hard it is to navigate the process without professional help. Being able to help my community by volunteering with IIBA has meant so much to me.”
Charles Huse
“There’s a human-interest angle to the work that’s largely absent from my day job as a patent prosecutor. I enjoy hearing people’s stories, and helping them figure out how to reflect those stories in the paperwork. The Silicon Valley’s success owes a lot to immigrants and the contributions they have made here. Given those contributions, I find pro bono work helping immigrants to be particularly rewarding.”