In case you were not yet recovered from a terrific Independence Day, I share some remarkable news from my State Bar colleague Alberto Rodriguez about an event that aimed to educate and assist the immigrant community. Thank you to all the Arizona attorneys and others who participated:
The State Bar of Arizona and Univision Arizona hosted a special edition of Abogados a Su Lado (attorneys on your side) public service program on Thursday, June 23, along with a community forum and legal help clinic on Tuesday, June 28. Both access to justice programs were held to help the immigrant community understand the impact of the Supreme Court of the United States’ divided decision regarding President Obama’s immigration executive actions.
State Bar of Arizona Abogados a Su Lado Phone Bank and Community Forum, June 2016
The Bar’s primary role as a partner and organizer of the events was to help the immigrant community understand its role as a consumer protection organization, as well as to connect them with licensed attorneys for sound legal advice regarding the SCOTUS decision. The immigrant community is often victimized by notarios and document preparers during high-profile activity associated with immigration law.
The following are recaps of both programs.
Phone Bank Details
What: Abogados a Su Lado Phone Bank
Date: Thursday, June 23, 2016
Time: 5 to 7 p.m.
Topic: Immigration Issues – DAPA/DACA
The volunteers were five attorneys:
- Marisol Angulo, Hernandez Global
- Ezequiel Hernandez, Hernandez Global
- Claudia Lopez, Law Office of Claude P. Lopez
- Karina Ordoñez, Karina Ordoñez Law Office
- Jose Peñalosa, Jose Peñalosa Attorney at Law
The volunteer attorneys answered 63 calls regarding the SCOTUS decision and immigration law. This special-edition phone bank was two hours.
Forum and Legal Help Clinic Details
What: Community Forum and Legal Help Clinic
Date: Tuesday, June 28, 2016
Time: 6 to 9 p.m.
Topic: Immigration Issues – DACA/DAPA
The volunteers were 10 attorneys:
- Marisol Angulo, Hernandez Global
- Emilia Bañuelos, Bañuelos Law Office
- Josh De La Ossa, De La Ossa and Ramos Law
- Seth Draper, Salvatierra Law
- Ezequiel Hernandez, Hernandez Global
- Claudia Lopez, Law Office of Claude P. Lopez
- Jose Peñalosa, Jose Peñalosa Attorney at Law
- Edwin Ramos, De La Ossa and Ramos Law
- Fae Sowders, Sowders Law
- Ray Ybarra Maldonado, Law Office of Ray A. Ybarra Maldonado
An estimated 350 consumers attended the three-hour access to justice event and 120 families received one-on-one consultations by volunteer attorneys.
The forum included an overview of the State Bar’s consumer protection services by Alberto Rodriguez; endorsements for the Bar by the Consulate General of Mexico in Phoenix, Mi Familia Vota, and United States Citizenship and Immigration Services; and a presentation covering the SCOTUS decision by attorney Ezequiel Hernandez. The entire access to justice program was offered in Spanish.
All attorney volunteers were extremely satisfied with their participation in these access to justice events. We thank them for committing their time and expertise, which helped the Bar continue connecting consumers with legal professionals.
We thank Univision Arizona for their continued partnership in providing this valuable access to justice program for the Spanish-speaking community, as well as volunteers from Mi Familia Vota who helped with event logistics.
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