BLASTlanta students will be working with two Atlanta organizations, Atlanta Volunteer Legal Foundation’s Safe & Stable Families Project (AVLF) and Kids In Need of Defense (KIND), that serve families affected by domestic violence and provide legal representation to unaccompanied immigrant children, respectively. Students will have the opportunity to do legal work in support of these organizations over the course of spring break. The work will depend on our partner organizations’ needs and client caseloads, but may include: conducting legal intakes and client interviews; preparing client pleadings for protective orders; advising clients through the processes of obtaining protective orders; completing asylum applications; preparing Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) or asylum declarations; or assisting in other immigration matters; and performing legal research and drafting briefs. Leading up to Spring Break, we will engage with various resources to better understand the intersecting factors that influence domestic violence and forced migration, and the legal needs of clients impacted by these experiences.
Time Commitment: In n addition to the entirety of Spring Break, we will meet once monthly for training on various legal topics and skills related to interpersonal violence and immigration, as well as host some social events throughout the year. These dates will be determined at the beginning of the fall semester to accommodate participants’ schedules.
For more information, please contact the student leaders at blastlanta@berkeley.edu.