A WORD FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Overflowing with gratitude . . . as we near our 30th Anniversary of teaching, advocacy, and service. The Law Center founders—La Raza law students, faculty, staff, and community members—were unwavering in their determination to assist day laborers who needed help securing the wages owed to them. I wonder if they’d envisioned what the Law Center would eventually become? Stay tuned as we will hear from the founders in future newsletters.
Today, the Law Center has grown to serve over 1,000 consumers, immigrants, and workers each year through community education and outreach, advice clinics, and direct representation. We are ever grateful to still be st
anding strong and remain dedicated to the dual mission of training law students to be life-long social justice advocates and serving the legal needs of the low-income community.
In each newsletter, we share about our practice areas. Read below about our immigration work—what we do and how alumni and other volunteers contribute. The Law Center enthusiastically supports student led efforts, read about the Latinx Law Student Association’s Bridge to Justice Legal Clinic where alumni volunteers are key. Lastly, please save-the-date for this year’s 30th Anniversary Celebration on Saturday, September 28th. We can’t wait to Celebrate 30 years of commitment to work we love, alongside you! What a gift it has been.
Be blessed,
Deborah Moss West JD ’94
Executive Director
Consider making a gift to keep our programs strong; we’d be quite grateful.
IMMIGRATION PRACTICE
The Law Center’s Immigration Practice is led by the committed team of Professor Lynette Parker, paralegal Margarita Sandoval, and contracting attorney Gam Galindo ’14 who, together with law students, skillfully provide individualized guidance and advice for low-income Santa Clara County residents.
The service delivery model offers community education and outreach, advice clinics, brief services, and direct representation:
Community Education and Outreach efforts target vulnerable populations throughout Santa Clara County and may be conducted virtually, via email, in-person at community events, or in collaboration with agencies.
Immigration Brief Service, Advice Clinics, and Referrals are offered every other Wednesday during each semester. Trained law students, working under supervision of experienced immigration attorneys, meet directly with clients to help identify legal issues, educate about potential options, and empower clients to pursue those options on their own, as well as provide clients with referrals to needed wrap-around services.
Direct Representation of clients implements our model of having law students carefully interview and represent clients under supervision of an experienced immigration attorney. This model ensures clients, especially those who have experienced trauma or who have complicated cases, receive the time-intensive assistance to pursue justice, utilizing the legal training and skills of the law students. Sometimes the process uncovers information that initially might not be readily apparent, such as indicators of possible human trafficking.
Clients can receive a broad range of support including screening and legal assistance regarding: T visas for victims of human trafficking; U visas for victims of crimes; self-petitions based on VAWA (the Violence Against Women Act); limited petitions for political asylum for UAC’s; deportation defense for existing clients; acquired citizenship; DACA deferred action for childhood arrivals; and limited naturalization and family-based petitions for existing clients.
In 2023, the immigration practice helped over 178 individuals and families obtain DACA renewals, T and U Visas, political asylum, permanent residence (green cards), and United States Citizenship. In addition, the staff engaged in training, as well as community education and outreach activities. Words and numbers fall short of fully capturing the transformative effect of the immigration practice.
Hear from those engaged in the work every day:
“The Law Center genuinely enhances our skills; the work is demanding but incredibly fulfilling. An added benefit is the strengthening of friendships that form through our service. We are forever connected to the Law Center.” Mahlieli Bothi ’24
“The work is intense at times, but always rewarding. The clients become family. Just last summer we were reunited with a former client (of 20 years ago) who came by just to say hello and thank us. Although I expected it, it brought joy to see how well she and her family are doing today. It’s heartwarming to realize that the Law Center contributed in some way to their success.” Margarita Sandoval, KGACLC Paralegal
“The Law Center ensures that students like me have the chance to apply our newly developed legal skills in the very manner we envisioned upon entering law school; that is, to make a meaningful contribution to the low-income community.” Melina Torres ’25
“I’ve provided immigration legal services for quite some time witnessing numerous shifts in thinking and changes in the law; some I believe are positive and some not so. What has not changed is the resilience of our clients and their hope for the future. It is an honor to accompany, assist, and support our clients on their journey. It is also wonderful to see the students employing the legal skills they are learning to be of service to others.” Lynette M. Parker, Associate Clinical Professor
Thank You Immigration Attorney Volunteers.
Our immigration work would not be possible without the invaluable assistance of numerous volunteer attorneys who generously share their time and expertise. This allows us to expand our educational efforts and serve more students and clients effectively. We are deeply grateful to the attorney volunteers of 2023-2024, many of whom are alumni of our clinical programs:
Evangeline Abriel, Clinical Professor of Law
Diane-Chi Liang
Chloe Marie Czabaranek ’20
Ana Gomez Perez ’22
Marili Iturbe Guadarrama ’21
Jeffrey Murphy
BRIDGE TO JUSTICE - March 2, 2024
Hosted by the Latinx Law Student Association (LLSA) in partnership with the Katharine & George Alexander Community Law Center, the semiannual Bridge to Justice (B2J) legal clinic was held on Saturday, March 2, 2024. This semester’s clinic featured the involvement of thirty-two law students and eight attorney volunteers. Together, they provided free information and advice for eighteen individuals & their families with immigration and workers’ rights matters. In addition to serving the community, the B2J fosters connections between law students and alumni, enriching the experience for everyone involved.
For eight years, the B2J has paired law students and attorneys serving community at an all-day free legal services Saturday clinic. The law students coordinate the event — preparing the flyers, outreaching to student volunteers, and connecting with organizations to outreach to clients. The Law Center trains and supervises the student volunteers, obtains the attorney volunteers, and provides the legal infrastructure for the event.
“Helping co-lead Bridge to Justice has been an incredibly rewarding experience. It is an amazing event that allows law students to provide legal aid to our underserved communities while gaining experience and connecting with fellow volunteers. I’m grateful to all who supported and took part in the event,” explained Jose Ramirez ’25, B2J co-coordinator and KGACLC clinical student.
Like many of the Law Center efforts, volunteer power is key—THANK YOU to the 2023 – 2024 B2J alumni and community and attorney volunteers:
Bernadette Connolly
Ana Gomez Perez ’22
Robert Greeley ’97
Ming Lui ’19
Felwina Osipo Modina ’16
Felipe Romero ’21
“Tremendous gratitude to student coordinators Lauren Loeb ’25 and Jose Ramirez ’25 and KGACLC’s Angelica Frias whose leadership made for a seamless clinic. And a special thank you to all who came out to volunteer. The B2J embodies service learning, it is the heart of what we do,” said Deborah Moss-West, KGACLC’s executive director.
Please let us know if you can join the volunteer efforts; we could use you!
KGACLC 30th ANNIVERSARY MCLE SPEAKER SERIES
Immigration Law Update
Unaccompanied Minors: Their Journey, Their Immigration Legal Options, and a Call to Action
April 2, 2024 | Noon - 1 pm | via Zoom
Free 1 hour MCLE
REGISTER HERE
Join us for an overview of the status of unaccompanied minors in the U.S., including migration history & trends, the journey here, what happens upon arrival, legal immigration remedies and protocols, and a call to action for us all. Professor Lynette Parker, in conversation with former KGACLC clinical students who are now practicing immigration attorneys, will share their insights and passion for doing this work.
A P R I L 1 0 , 2 0 2 4
As we approach our 30th Anniversary of teaching, advocacy, and service, thank you for going ALL in for KGACLC during Day of Giving. The event provided a chance to highlight the many departments and programs throughout SCU committed to supporting positive change and action. We appreciate the previous show of support for the Law Center and the special day of record giving for the Law School. On April 10, help us repeat the feat by going ALL in for KGACLC during this year’s Day of Giving (more info to come).
Each year, the Law Center holds an event to Celebrate the community, commitment, and courage awardees, while also recognizing those who make our work possible. Please save-the-date and watch your email for details on how we will commemorate this milestone year!
YOUR VOLUNTEER WORK AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT
WILL HELP KGACLC:
- Stay at the forefront of social justice issues, serving as a thought leader, consistent provider of legal services for low-income communities, and skill-builder for law students, in line with the University’s Jesuit values.
- Facilitate educational opportunities and job prospects for Law Center students through mentoring.
- Launch a one-year fellowship program for graduating Law Center alumni to continue their work and commitment to social justice.
Interested in volunteering or joining our Advisory Board? Contact Deborah Moss-West or Board Chair Delma Locke to learn more. We would like to hear from you.
