Advocate for Victims and Immigrant Justice

The need for Victim Advocacy has doubled.

Immigration attorneys witness the highs and the lows of humanity. This article from law360.com struck a chord on many fronts for us.

When we learn that our client has experienced violence, or is a victim of crime, there's always a moment that stays with us.

The client asks, "How much will this cost?"

"Nothing."

Very often, we're there with our clients as they start to release some of their stress, worry, and pain.

We wish we could do this all the time, but the reality is - we have rent and bills to pay. So we reserve completely pro bono services for the most vulnerable clients, for the most pressing cases, for the times of most need, where violence, threats of violence, and suffering as a result of being the victims of crime are involved.

This happens far more often than we'd like. In 2022, we've already opened twice as many cases of this nature than the past two years combined.

Every case we take, every new attorney-client relationship we take on without charging fees reduces our capacity to do the wholeness of legal services that LIA provides. And we hope to continue to say "Yes" to these cases, and answer "Nothing" when asked "how much?" - but that is only possible with your support.

Please consider donating today to refill our Victim Advocacy Fund with $30,000 by September 15th. This special campaign is separate from our annual fundraising, which supports all of the work of our whole office, and we will ask for your help again by the end of the year. As capacity has been stretched, we're asking you to donate, and to share this need with as many people as possible.

Together, we are stronger, and we can care with the depth of empathy and care that these clients deserve, demand, and need.