Asylum Law

Since 1978, Human Rights First has worked to protect and promote fundamental human rights around the world. Human Rights First's Refugee Protection Program assists indigent refugees from all backgrounds who have fled persecution on the basis of their race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion, and who are seeking asylum in the United States.

Many of these asylum seekers are in urgent need of legal representation to assist them in asylum proceedings before immigration judges. Other asylum seekers need representation before the Asylum Office at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

On Thursday, June 12, 2008, Human Rights First will sponsor a training seminar for attorneys interested in becoming volunteers with our asylum legal representation program. The seminar will take place at the law firm of McCarter & English, LLP, located at Four Gateway Center, 100 Mulberry Street, Newark, NJ 07102. The training will begin promptly at 9:00 a.m. and will run until 11:00 a.m., with registration from 8:30 a.m. to 8:55 a.m. An immigration judge, an asylum officer, and asylum program staff will speak on techniques of representing asylum applicants and recent developments in asylum law.

CLE credit will be provided to attorneys who attend this training.

The training is free of charge to all interested attorneys, and no prior experience in immigration law is necessary. Participants should RSVP to Elisabeth Centeno at centenoe@humanrightsfirst.org or 212-845-5291 by June 9, 2008.

Human Rights First is a non-governmental organization which works to promote international human rights and refugee protection. Human Rights First's Refugee Protection Program has played a leading role in advancing fairness and non-discrimination for those seeking political asylum in the United States. The Chairman of Human Rights First is William D. Zabel. Michael Posner is Human Rights First's President, and Maureen Byrnes is the Executive Director.