Hundreds helped in @AZStateBar Abogados a Su Lado phone bank on immigration

Attorneys assist at Abogados a Su Lado phone bank, March 1, 2017.

News from my colleague Alberto Rodriguez:

The State Bar of Arizona and Univision Arizona hosted the first Abogados a Su Lado (attorneys on your side) phone bank of the year on Wednesday, March 1, 2017. This access to justice program was held to help the immigrant community understand the impact of the President’s Executive Orders.

The Bar’s role as a partner and organizer of the phone bank was to help the immigrant community connect with licensed attorneys for sound legal advice. The immigrant community is often victimized by notarios and document preparers during high-profile activity associated with immigration law.

The phone bank on immigration law was held on Wednesday, March 1, from 5:00 to 10:30 p.m.

There were nine volunteer attorneys:

• Marisol Angulo, Hernandez Global
• Emilia Banuelos, Banuelos Law Office
• Vanessa Black, Vanessa Black Law Immigration Law Firm
• Joshua De La Ossa, De La Ossa & Ramos
• Seth B. Draper, Salvatierra Law Group
• Judy Flanagan, Judy C. Flanagan, PC
• Ayensa Millan, CIMA Law Group
• Edwin G. Ramos, De La Ossa & Ramos
• Javier Sobampo, Sobampo Law Firm

Volunteer attorneys answered 381 calls regarding immigrant rights and changes in immigration law during the five-and-a-half-hour phone bank.

We thank the attorneys as well as Univision Arizona for its continued partnership in providing this valuable program for the Spanish-speaking community. We also thank the volunteers from Mi Familia Vota who helped with event logistics.

Follow @azatty

 

Immigration issues inform 2/24 @FlorenceProject music event, lawyers helping travelers

In partnership with the Florence Project, The Rogue Trio will perform February 24 at ASU’s Katzin Hall.

This month’s headlines were filled with developments regarding immigration law and significant changes that are proposed for its enforcement.

If you’re seeking a very creative way to be imbued with the immigrant experience, an event this Friday night at ASU may be the (free) ticket—or the boleto, if you’d prefer.

As organizers describe it: For one night only, The Rogue Trio partners with the Florence Project to create a unique musical experience, featuring testimony of Florence Project clients. Making his southwest debut, composer Ralph Lewis takes powerful testimony of immigrants detained in Arizona and combines their accounts with live and electroacoustic music for a moving musical juxtaposition that brings hope amongst fear.

Did you catch that? Migrant testimony in combination with music.

The performance will be held at Arizona State University’s Katzin Hall on Friday, February 24, at 7:30 p.m. Doors will open at 7:15 p.m., and admission is free. Parking information can be found here. If you have any questions, reach out to Greer Millard at gmillard@firrp.org or 602-795-7407. More information on the The Rogue Trio is here.

And who are The Rogue Trio? They are: Justin Rollefson on saxophones, Kathleen Strahm on violin, and Mary Strobel-Price on piano. They describe their work as “a contemporary chamber ensemble that explores the diverse color palate of an unconventional assortment of instruments.” Color me interested. You can visit their website here, and find them on Facebook here.

Meantime, in other legal news related to the high-profile nature of immigration cases today, here’s an ABA Journal article about a website that connects volunteer lawyers with travelers affected by the immigration ban.

As ABA Journal reporter Debra Cassens Weiss writes, “Airport Lawyer allows users to input information about people targeted by the ban who are traveling to the United States—whether it’s the user, a friend or family member. The information can be shared with lawyers who can be available at the airport to monitor arrivals. … A list of the airports where volunteer lawyers are available through the app is here.”

Follow @azatty

 

Immigration legal advice from @AZStateBar @UnivisionAZ amidst shifting federal rules

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.

Follow @azatty

 

Immigration, opening a law office, PTSD among @AZStateBar #azbarcon seminar topics

The Sheraton Grand at Wild Horse Pass will be the site for the 2016 State Bar of Arizona Convention.

 Today, I offer another post describing legal seminars at the upcoming State Bar Convention. (All the detail is here. And the complete Convention brochure is here.)

What follows are questions I asked seminar chairs, followed by their responses.

Today, I share the responses of chairs for programs this Friday afternoon, June 17.

Click on the seminar title to read more detail as published in the Convention brochure. (Note: Not all seminar chairs responded.)

Friday, June 17, 2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

F-48: Starting Your Own Practice: Practical Tips and Resources

Co-chairs: Roberta Tepper, Kristin Moye

Who should attend this seminar?

Newer lawyers, lawyers in transition to a solo or small firm practice, lawyers who want information about law practice management

What is the one main takeaway a lawyer will gain by attending this seminar?

Practical information that will help them in building their practice and the assistance the Bar can provide after the convention.

How is this seminar timely? (That is: Why do attorneys need to learn more about this topic right now? What’s going on now in the world or in law practice that makes this topic important?)

This session is timely because many lawyers entering the profession now are opening solo or small firm practices; it’s always a good time to learn some helpful and practical tips that can make a law practice run more efficiently and effectively by tuning-up your practice management skills.

What is the most common misconception about this issue? In other words, what do lawyers think they know, but don’t?

Lawyers, particularly freshly minted ones, forget that running a law practice is also running a business. Lawyers sometimes focus on the substance of their practice and neglect the practical details and this session will remind them and give those just starting out tools and suggestions to help make their new practice a success.

2:00 p.m. – 5:15 p.m.

F-49: Not Another Caselaw Review: Emerging Technology, Legal Issues, nd the Construction Industry

Chair: Matt Meaker

Matt Meaker

Who should attend this seminar?

Attorneys interested in learning about the use of drones and other technology in construction.

What is the one main takeaway a lawyer will gain by attending this seminar?

It’s not enough to know the last twenty years of caselaw to be a good lawyer. Clients will always be growing and changing. Working with them to understand where they are heading helps a good lawyer to anticipate what the legal issues may be now and in the future.

How is this seminar timely? (That is: Why do attorneys need to learn more about this topic right now? What’s going on now in the world or in law practice that makes this topic important?)

The use of drones and BIM is becoming more prevalent in the construction industry. Understanding why clients are using this technology and what the legal implications of doing so is critical for those attorneys who want to be ahead of the curve.

F-50: Immigration Consequences of Criminal Convictions

Chair: Todd Lawson

Todd Lawson

Who should attend?

Criminal practitioners who want to learn what happens after a conviction, once their client gets to immigration court. Immigration practitioners who would like some insight on the decisions made in criminal courts before their clients face immigration proceedings.

What is the one main takeaway a lawyer will gain by attending this seminar?

Criminal practitioners should be able to get some basic information which will help them so that their clients do not run into unexpected troubles in subsequent immigration proceedings.

How is this seminar timely?

The Criminal and Immigration Sections have put on this session before at previous conventions, but this presentation will be updated with new law and current procedures.

What is the most common misconception about this issue?

Criminal and Immigration lawyers think they are not skilled enough in the other’s area to offer meaningful advice across the topics without referring the client out to another practitioner. We hope to give practitioners some basic info to address the easiest topics without the need for a referral.

F-53: PTSD and Forensic Labor Market Analysis

Co-chairs: Stephen Ball, Diana Ezrré Robles

Diana Ezrré Robles

Who should attend?

Lawyers interested in workers’ compensation issues who either practice in this area or whose practices come into contact with this area should attend our seminar.

What is the one main takeaway a lawyer will gain by attending this seminar?

The main takeaway is that workers’ compensation law is quite unique but has many overlapping issues with other practice areas.

How is this seminar timely?

PTSD is either more frequently diagnosed at present or is just more prevalent now than at other times, regardless, the effects of PTSD are being felt in great numbers and presents challenges to lawyers in many practice areas.

A record-number of legal seminars are on offer at the 2016 State Bar of Arizona Convention.

Follow @azatty

 

More than 300 consumers helped at @AZStateBar legal aid clinics for #LawDay

Today, an update about a great Law Day event by my colleague Alberto Rodriguez: (What he does not mention in his recap is the huge amount of important and complicated work he himself put in to have the multi-site event come off flawlessly. Thank you and congratulations, Alberto!)

On Saturday, April 30, the State Bar of Arizona held the 2016 Law Day Legal Aid Clinics where 24 of its members offered free one-on-one legal consultations from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at two Valley locations.

The clinics offered free legal consultations by members who practice Family Law, Bankruptcy/Foreclosure, Probate/Trust Law, and Immigration Law at State Bar of Arizona offices in central Phoenix, and Glendale Community College in the west valley. Once again, the Bar partnered with ABC15 and Univision Arizona to promote the day-long clinics, which were overwhelmingly successful.

Volunteer attorneys provided 325 consultations during law clinic to the 306 consumers who were seen—a dramatic increase from last year’s 216 consultations. Several attorneys offered free follow-up services after the clinic to consumers who needed additional help.

The State Bar of Arizona expresses its sincerest appreciation to its attorney and logistics volunteers, along with its media and community partners. Thank you!

A complete list of volunteers, along with photos and media coverage, can be viewed here.

Follow @azatty

 

Violence, resilience mark path to migrant survival, @EmilyBashah reports in @psychtoday

Warning sign posted at the international boundary between the United States and Canada in Point Roberts, Washington. (photo via Wikimedia Commons.)

In past months, I’ve been privileged to share recent research on the lives of migrants. The work has been done by Dr. Emily Bashah and her colleagues Louise M. Baca and Karen L. Suyemoto. Focused on “the lived experiences of undocumented immigrants,” the work is compelling, timely, and accessible to non-researchers (not always easy to do!).

(You can read my previous posts here and here.)

Today, I share their third and final publication that has been published in Psychology Today on the narrative qualitative themes.

This essay is titled “Nature of Survival: Emerging themes from migrant journeywomen and implications for social policy.” If you’re in a hurry, jump to the bottom of their post where they detail the implications. As the authors write, “As evidenced by the women’s testimonial themes, more just and humane policies are needed to provide immigrants rights to live and work in the U.S. with legal options and protections.”

Once again, if you have thoughts on how we could cover the legal aspects of immigration in a thoughtful and compelling way, write to me at arizona.attorney@azbar.org.

Border fence separating Mexico and United States.

Follow @azatty

 

Migrant experience of Latinas shared by @EmilyBashah in @psychtoday

Central American migrants in southern Mexico, 2008 (Photo: Peter Haden, Wikimedia Commons).

About a month ago, I was pleased to share some research that examines “the lived experiences of undocumented immigrants.” Written by Dr. Emily Bashah and colleagues, it yielded a view into a topic that is too little addressed—the challenges faced by Latinas in their legal and geographic journey.

I am happy to share a second post with you today, also by Dr. Bashah, who lives and works here in Arizona. It is a follow-up to her previous coverage, and it examines “the immigrant women’s core narrative” in Psychology Today.

You’ll see that what these researchers seek to do is to make visible the migrants’ own stories, which rarely factor into public policy dialogues. Here is how the post opens (citations omitted here):

Dr. Emily Bashah

“Undocumented Latinas who cross the Southwestern border into the United States face a myriad of challenges. Among the risks psychological research has identified: trauma, abuse, violence, xenophobia, acculturative stress …, oppression, and lack of legal protection. With that in mind, we wanted to understand the lived experiences of undocumented Latinas who were detained and deported, with particular focus on the challenges they faced and the resiliency that facilitated their survival. The Kino Border Initiative, an organization that provides humanitarian aid in Nogales, Sonora, Mexico, supplied a randomized sample … of testimonials from deported Latinas living in a women’s shelter within 2010-2011.”

“The following passages are a compilation of major themes generated from the women’s stories. Identifying information has been redacted to protect respondents’ confidentiality, while also maintaining the richness of qualitative testimonials in original narrative form.”

Read the whole post here.

If you have thoughts on how we could cover the legal aspects of immigration in a thoughtful and compelling way, write to me at arizona.attorney@azbar.org.

Follow @azatty

 

Arizona immigrant research by @EmilyBashah featured in @psychtoday

The experience of some immigrants in the Southwest is described in new research.

Last month, I had the pleasure to attend an event commemorating the Florence Immigrant & Refugee Rights Project. (In an upcoming issue of Arizona Attorney Magazine, we hope to cover their 25th anniversary year.) It’s always great to catch up with the staff and lawyers who work hard to ensure fair processes and aim for optimal outcomes for their clients.

Dr. Emily Bashah

While at the gathering hosted by Lewis Roca Rothgerber, I met a researcher who has been studying the “lived experiences of undocumented immigrants.” Dr. Emily Bashah, with her colleagues, has spoken with many of those who have sought a better life through migration.

I learned that she not only does research on important public issues, but she is adept at synopsizing them into readable blog posts.

Today, I invite you to read one of her posts, written by Emily and colleagues Lois M. Baca and Karen L. Suyemoto. It’s titled “Crossing the Line,” and it allows the migrants to describe their own sometimes harrowing experiences.

As the researchers note:

“Although not all undocumented immigrants who cross the Southwest border face coercion, exploitation, or other violations of human rights that constitute human and sex trafficking, the risks are prevalent.”

Among the compelling stories, the blog post also shared the Power and Control Wheel, which is stunning in its stark recitation of the variety of abuses that immigrant women and children may face.

Immigrant power and control wheel. Source: National Center on Domestic and Sexual Violence. (2012).

Dr. Bashah tells me that she also plans to publish another blog that more specifically speaks to the deported Latinas’ lived experiences. I’ll share that when I see it.

Follow @azatty

 

 

Diversity perspectives, candid talk promised at @AZStateBar lawyer education

Judge Roxanne Song Ong (ret.)

This Thursday, the annual event called Spring Training for Lawyers will be held. (I mentioned it yesterday, here.)

There is quite a bit of content worth seeing at the event this Thursday and Friday. Topics include (in no particular order) stereotyping, the Hobby Lobby decision, representing clients with disabilities, mindfulness in practice, and immigration law.

Every one of those (plus others) look like great panels helmed by talented lawyers.

But the opening panel on Thursday is the one I really am disappointed to miss. The title is “Perspectives on Diversity in the Legal Profession in Arizona, and it runs from 1:30 p.m. to 4:45 p.m.

The speakers have walked the walk:

• George Chen, partner at Bryan Cave

• Booker Evans, shareholder at Gallagher & Kennedy

• Sonia Martinez, solo practitioner and past President of NABA

• Ed Maldonado, solo practitioner and past President of Los Abogados

• Hon. Roxanne Song Ong, retired Presiding Judge of the Phoenix Municipal Court

Booker Evans

Sonia Martinez

Ed Maldonado

Topics will include:

• Challenges facing minority attorneys in the workplace
• Issues of majority attorneys working with minority lawyers
• Importance of developing business for minority lawyers

As organizers say, “A full hour is also dedicated for the panelists to interact with the audience, who are encouraged to ask the ‘tough questions’ about minority issues. The panelists will do their best to provide their candid answers.”

More information is here, including the full program, fees (regular, late, and student discount), additional registration and CLE information.

Register here.

Follow @azatty

 

Immigration law, deferred action the focus of @AZStateBar @UnivisionAZ event

The State Bar of Arizona continues to play a significant role in educating consumers about immigration law. It couldn’t come at a better time.

Previously, I mentioned a few events the Bar scheduled in December to help the public understand the ins and outs of the recent presidential Executive Order on immigration. Today, I offer a follow-up to the event held on December 22. Just three days before Christmas, more than a dozen lawyers offered their time and expertise to a packed-to-the-rafters crowd. It was scheduled in a way to accommodate consumers who have jobs and other daytime obligations, so it’s even more impressive that the attorneys attended until 10:00 p.m. Well done and congratulations.

The forum’s format opened with a 45-minute presentation on the topic by attorney Ezequiel Hernandez, followed by the opportunity to speak with individual lawyers.

Keep in mind that the December 22 event followed on the heels of a phone bank organized by the Bar the day after the President’s Executive Order (a phone bank held on a Friday night and that included some dedicated volunteer attorneys).

I can’t help but feel that the Bar is probably a long way ahead of other organizations in regard to educating folks on this breaking topic.

Here’s the update:

Thirteen volunteer attorneys came together on Monday, December 22, to offer free legal advice at an informational session and legal assistance clinic hosted by the State Bar of Arizona and its partner Univision Arizona at St. Agnes Church in Phoenix. This access to justice program, held from 5:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m., was organized to inform consumers, dispel myths, and combat consumer fraud related to immigration law and deferred action.

Approximately 550 consumers attended the access to justice event, and 286 families participated in one-on-one consultations with volunteer attorneys.

The 13 volunteer attorneys were:

• Marysol Angulo, Hernandez Global
• Emilia Banuelos, Banuelos Law Office
• Seth Draper, Salvatierra Law Group
• Judy Flanagan, Judy C. Flanagan, PC
• Lisette Flores, Friendly House
• Jaime Garcia, Garcia Law Group
• Marni Guerrero, Guerrero Jefferies Law Group
• Ezequiel Hernandez, Hernandez Global
• Claudia Lopez, Law Office of Claudia P. Lopez PLLC
• Jose L. Penalosa, Penalosa & Associates
• Cynthia J. Perez,  Hammond Law Group
• Juan Rocha, Rocha Law Office
• Ray Ybarra Maldonado, Law Office of Ray A. Ybarra Maldonado

Follow @azatty