Name of Organization: Smith Immigration Law
Website of Organization: https://www.smithimmigrationgroup.com
Organization’s Mandate:
Project Name: LGBTQ+ Refugee Application Support
Project Type: We are a boutique immigration and refugee law firm that specializes in LGBTQ+ immigration to Canada. We frequently appear before the Immigration and Refugee Board and Federal Court to advocate on a range of immigration matters, including family sponsorship, refugee applications, inadmissibility issues, and temporary visas.
Project Delivery: Remote
Description of Project: Students will be involved in preparing pro bono refugee applications for members of the LGBTQ+ community, including gathering information from clients, drafting refugee narratives, and doing legal research and writing related to country conditions. Students will be given the opportunity to attend refugee hearings, legal information seminars and do legal blogging.
Role of Student Volunteers: The student will be assisting with the preparation of pro bono refugee applications for members of the LGBTQ+ community through research and legal writing.
Role of Supervising Lawyer(s): Meet with students to identify issues and explain what information needs to be gathered; assign legal research tasks. The lawyer supervisor will review and approve all content prepared by the volunteer.
Type of Law: Immigration and Refugee Law.
Main Project Deliverable: Creating produced content (e.g. research memos, brochures, podcasts, etc.)
Number of Student Placements: 1 student.
Hours per week the student volunteer(s) will be expected to work: 3-5 hours/week
Regular shifts or a flexible schedule: Flexible
Is there a workspace provided for the student at the Organization: Yes
Devices and technologies the students will be required to have: Computer, internet access, telephone, Zoom.
Is there an expectation for the student(s) to be bilingual: No
Law School Pre-Requisites: Preference given to students who completed immigration and refugee law.
Other Requirements or Expectations: Interest in immigration and refugee law.