Overview

The Asylum and Immigration Law Clinic (AILC) at Wayne State University Law School offers free legal services to Michigan residents seeking immigration relief. Under the supervision of experienced and licensed faculty, upper-level law student attorneys assume primary responsibility for cases and work directly with clients to address their legal needs.

Clinic goals:

• Provide upper-level law students with the opportunity to learn legal theory and practice skills through supervised representation of clients
• Provide legal services to underserved immigrant clients, particularly those facing removal in immigration court
• Work alongside community organizations and partners that promote immigrant rights and social inclusion for noncitizens

For students

AILC students represent individuals seeking immigration relief, and have the opportunity to gain knowledge in the context of interviewing and counseling, case planning, fact investigation, and written and oral communication with clients, tribunals, and policymakers. Student attorneys typically represent multiple clients before the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and the Detroit Immigration Court.

AILC is a six (6) credit course and meets the experiential education requirement. Advanced AILC is a two (2) credit course open to students who have successfully completed AILC, with permission of AILC faculty.

Pre/co-requisites:

• Completed all required first-year courses
• Good academic standing at least a cumulative 2.0 GPA or higher
• LEX 6800 Professional Responsibility
• LEX 7371 Immigration Law
• Consent of instructor

View AILC course information

For prospective clients

AILC receives the majority of its clients through referrals from community partner organizations.

Individuals seeking assistance with an immigration case can consult the Immigration Advocates Network directory for Michigan here.

AILC offers representation to individuals seeking humanitarian immigration relief, including:

• Appeals to the Board of Immigration Appeals
• Bond proceedings for ICE detainees
• Asylum, withholding of removal, and relief under the Convention Against Torture before the Detroit Immigration Court
• Self-petitions under the Violence Against Women Act
• T and U visas for survivors of trafficking and other crimes
• Special Immigrant Juvenile Status petitions for unaccompanied children
• Family reunification, travel documents and adjustment of status for clinic clients

For donors

Please consider investing in the work of the clinics by making a gift. Visit giving.wayne.edu or contact Rob MacGregor, senior director of philanthropy, (313) 577-4141 or rmacgregor@wayne.edu.

Contact

Due to COVID-19, Wayne Law's clinics are temporarily unable to accommodate walk-ins. Please use the information below to reach the Asylum and Immigration Law Clinic.

Assistant Professor (Clinical) Sabrina Balgamwalla
Director, Asylum and Immigration Law Clinic

For more information, email lawclinics@wayne.edu or call (313) 577-4015.