The Immigration Law Clinic was founded in Fall 2008, and will begin serving the public in January 2009. The Clinic will provide opportunities for students preparing for a career in immigration law or general practice by developing skills that are critical in legal practice through an experiential learning model. It will also serve the local community by giving pro bono representation to area individuals in need of legal assistance in immigration.
Arkansas has the fastest growing foreign born population in the country, yet there is a lack of local attorneys to represent them. A recent study found that over 50% of immigrants nation-wide go without legal representation; given the rising population in Arkansas, that number is likely to be higher in this state. Statistics also demonstrate that those immigrants without representation are significantly less likely to obtain the relief they seek than those who have an attorney. The Immigration Law Clinic will educate students in both the specialized practice requirements as well as the substantive law needed in order to fill the void in the local Immigration Law bar. The Immigration Clinic will serve as a model that prepares law students for general practice by equipping them with both the skill sets and the values that are essential to succeed while filling a growing need in the community.
