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A Student Organization at the University of Washington School of Law
Founded in 1996 as a partnership between Northwest Immigrant Rights
Project (NWIRP) and the University of Washington School of Law, the Immigrant
Families Advocacy Project (IFAP) trains and matches law students with pro
bono attorneys and immigrant survivors of domestic violence eligible to
self-petition under the Violence Against Women Act.
IFAP has enabled many immigrant women and children to leave abusive
families without the threat of deportation and begin the process of creating a
life free of violence. Additionally,
it has provided law students – including those in their first year – with
the chance to gain training and experience in immigration law, domestic
violence advocacy, and client counseling.
Law students involved with IFAP value the opportunity to work on a real
case with attorney supervision.
IFAP continues to be a cooperative effort between NWIRP and the UW law
school. After completing
applications and attending mandatory training sessions, law students work in
pairs with pro bono attorneys on cases that have been screened by NWIRP.
NWIRP provides the crucial support necessary for IFAP to function.
Not only do the staff members of NWIRP’s Domestic Violence Unit play
an instrumental role in organizing, conducting, and monitoring the mandatory
law student trainings, they serve as resources for students and pro bono
attorneys representing clients throughout the self-petitioning process.
A volunteer Steering Committee comprised of UW law students coordinates
IFAP, with the supervision of law school Professor Anita Ramasastry.
Currently, the Steering Committee consists of Co-Chairs; a Case Manager
who works with NWIRP staff to match students, clients and pro bono attorneys;
a Training Coordinator who organizes law student trainings; and a
Secretary/Treasurer. At this
time, approximately 75 UW law students participate in IFAP. During the fall of each year, IFAP conducts trainings for law students. In order to be matched with clients, law students must have attended all of the trainings. |