Think Immigration: Give a Day, Get the Chance to Change Lives in Your Community on AILA Citizenship Day

According to the Migration Policy Institute, as of January 2023, there were an estimated 9 million green card holders eligible to naturalize. Seeking U.S. citizenship is a tremendous milestone for many, including some who may have been on this pathway for decades. In an election year, we always see large numbers of individuals seeking naturalization, not only for the benefit of civic engagement and being able to vote, but also to access certain benefits, jobs, and reunification with family members.

As an immigration attorney, being part of this journey is an incredibly rewarding way to give your time and expertise, and there is no better way to do this than getting connected with local citizenship efforts. Need more convincing? We are going to highlight just a few reasons why you should support and volunteer with an event through AILA Citizenship Day!

When it comes to pro bono, there are many ways to get involved. Oftentimes when we think about pro bono, we think about taking on a case from beginning to end, filing a G-28 or E-28, and supporting a client through the entire application process that takes months, if not years. We all know that those longer-term commitments can feel almost impossible to take on sometimes.

However, citizenship clinics are unique in that the full scope of pro bono service can take place in a single 4-to-8-hour timeframe. Typically, pro bono attorneys show up to a well-organized event, sign limited representation agreements, and spend their shift preparing N-400 applications or providing legal review for pro se applicants. Citizenship Day clinics allow you to volunteer just a few hours of your time and provide meaningful change to low-income lawful permanent residents who are on their path to citizenship.

These clinics provide benefits to all immigration attorneys, regardless of your level of experience. Less experienced practitioners can meet and learn from more seasoned attorneys, making connections with colleagues for immigration challenges that may arise in the future. With citizenship clinics, there are often opportunities to gain Continuing Legal Education (CLE) credit from the naturalization training provided or depending on your jurisdiction, credit for your service. For those more seasoned practitioners, citizenship clinics provide a good opportunity to connect with newer attorneys and provide valuable knowledge and mentorship. Due to the range of applicants, experienced attorneys are needed in these events to flag potential concerns and trouble-shoot issues that may disqualify an applicant from the event.

Participating in a citizenship clinic is also a great place to network and team-build. These events usually have a large group of volunteers comprised of attorneys, law students, paralegals, interpreters, and community members. The energy is infectious, as you all work together. You can connect with other providers in your community that can be a benefit to your daily practice and source for referrals. Bring your firm colleagues or family members—there is a role for everyone.

Citizenship clinics are a satisfying and fun way to engage in your community! Often there is great food, interesting colleagues, and applicants from all over the world. Those applying for citizenship are in the final phase of their immigration journey and are often excited about the prospect of achieving their goals of becoming U.S. citizens. All in all, these are high-energy, positive pro bono opportunities where you can have a serious impact on the lives of these applicants with minimal commitment.

Now that we have sold you on just a few of the reasons getting involved with citizenship clinics is a great idea (not just on AILA Citizenship Day, but year-round), here are some ways to find an opportunity:

• Connect with your local chapter’s pro bono liaison or Citizenship Day coordinator to find out the details about your local event. If you need help getting connected, contact probono@aila.org.
• Can’t do an in-person event but you speak Spanish? Help NALEO screen potential applicants for citizenship remotely on September 21
• Find a legal service provider in your area and ask if they have clinics.
• Want to organize a citizenship event? AILA has resources just for you!

Thank you in advance for donating your time and expertise to help AILA Citizenship Day be a success!