How Law Firms Are Helping Meet Increased Immigration Legal Need

Is there a client interaction or moment from your pro bono work that has stayed with you?

One client interaction that has really stayed with me from my pro bono work was getting to know my client’s family throughout the process and being able to celebrate the wins with them. Legal cases can often feel very focused on forms and deadlines, but my pro bono work experiences reminded me that the outcome reaches far beyond just one individual. What has meant the most to me is seeing my client and his family celebrate together after a positive outcome. Those moments are a powerful reminder of why this work matters and that pro bono work is not just about resolving a legal issue, but about helping families move forward with hope and security.

What have you valued most about working with Ayuda and our clients?

What I have valued most about working on immigration pro bono matters is the opportunity to help individuals who may not otherwise have access to legal assistance. I have found it extremely rewarding to participate in immigration clinics and steer potential clients in the right direction with basic guidance on their options and next steps in the process.

How has your own background shaped your interest in immigration and pro bono work?

As a first-generation American, my background has deeply shaped my interest in immigration and pro bono work. I have seen firsthand how immigration created opportunity and stability for my family, and I hope to honor the hard work my parents put in to give my brother and I those opportunities by helping others pursue the same future. Living in different parts of the world and building relationships with people from many cultures has also shaped the way I see the experience of others and strengthened my commitment to work that makes legal support more accessible.

What goes into building a strong pro bono partnership behind the scenes?

As Venable’s Pro Bono Coordinator, I prioritize building strong, lasting partnerships through in-person meetings and regular check-ins throughout the year. I believe that meeting face-to-face adds depth to our relationships and creates opportunities for more meaningful collaboration. Each year, Venable also invites our partner organizations to the Civiletti Awards, providing a valuable opportunity for them to connect with our attorneys and build relationships with incoming associates. I enjoy thinking outside the box to identify creative ways to strengthen these partnerships and foster meaningful, lasting connections.

What has been most meaningful about Venable’s relationship with Ayuda?

Organizing legal clinics for Venable attorneys to support Ayuda is rewarding, as it allows our attorneys to make a meaningful impact while strengthening our partnership. More recently, coordinating a habeas training for Ayuda’s staff has been a particularly powerful and meaningful step in our relationship.

What do you enjoy most about helping connect attorneys with opportunities to use their skills for good?

I value finding opportunities that go beyond traditional pro bono support to expand our collective impact in the community. I also love meeting new attorneys, learning about their interests, and helping them discover their passion for pro bono work. It is rewarding to connect attorneys with meaningful opportunities that align with their interests and inspire them to make a difference.

What has been meaningful about working with Ayuda or participating in our pro bono opportunities?

Helping someone navigate a difficult situation and find a path forward has been a meaningful part of my pro bono work. Being able to use my legal skills to support someone in need aligns closely with my core values, and I am grateful to have played a small role in that process. Ayuda was an invaluable resource, offering guidance and support throughout the matter. I am also grateful that Troutman offers such a wide array of pro bono opportunities, which allow attorneys to learn a new area of law while helping someone seek justice.

What makes collaboration between law firms, in-house counsel, and organizations like Ayuda valuable?

Collaboration between law firms, in-house counsel, and organizations like Ayuda is valuable because it lets us make a bigger impact on the lives of people who need legal support. By working with lawyers in different fields and at different stages of their careers, we can reach more people who need help than any one group could reach alone. There is so much legal talent out there, and so many lawyers who want to help people in need of legal support. Partnerships like these connect that willingness with the clients who need it most.

Why is pro bono work important to you personally? 

Pro bono work matters deeply to me because it reflects why I became a lawyer. Since high school, I have wanted to use a legal degree to help people who need support, often at the most difficult moments of their lives. Regardless of the legal challenges someone may be facing, I believe everyone deserves access to justice. I strive to make a positive difference in my community, which is exactly why pro bono matters to me. 

What motivated you or your team to step in on these matters?

There is an acute shortage of attorneys available to represent immigrant children, and the implications of this gap stay with you once you learn how high the stakes are for these kids. Stepping in was my way of helping to close it, even if only for two children at a time.

What has your experience working with Ayuda been like so far?

Working with Ayuda has been seamless from the start. They provided clear instructions and genuinely helpful example materials, and they have been quick and responsive whenever I have had a question, which has made it easy to focus my energy on the clients.

Why is pro bono work meaningful to you personally?

I believe pro bono service is an ethical obligation that comes with being a lawyer. But for me it goes well beyond duty: it is consistently the most fulfilling and meaningful work I do, and it reminds me why I entered this profession in the first place.

What motivated you or your team to step in on these matters?

Having previously worked in several of the countries from which many juvenile immigrants originate, I have seen firsthand the challenges and circumstances that often lead families to seek protection in the United States. Knowing the profound difference that legal representation can make in a child’s case, I wanted to use my skills to help ensure these young people have a meaningful opportunity to be heard and protected.

What has your experience working with Ayuda been like so far?

Working with Ayuda has been incredibly rewarding. The team brings deep experience in juvenile immigration matters and has been an invaluable resource in helping us navigate the complexities of the immigration system.

Why is pro bono work meaningful to you personally?

Before becoming a lawyer, I worked in the nonprofit sector, where service to the community was at the heart of my work. Pro bono representation allows me to continue that commitment in my legal career by using my professional skills to help individuals who might otherwise lack access to legal assistance. It is one of the most meaningful ways I can give back to the community.

Please describe your most recent pro bono experience with Ayuda.

Earlier this year, my Latham colleagues Nick McQuaid, Maia McFarlin, Jeremiah Davis, Michael McCray, and I worked with Ayuda attorneys Sasha and Shanti on a motion to reopen the immigration proceedings of a bright, energetic six-year-old boy. The deadline was short, but, after reviewing the record and meeting our client’s mother, we knew he had a compelling story. Over the next month, our team gathered facts, interviewed witnesses, and drafted the motion, with Ayuda’s guidance at every step. The court granted the motion, finding that reopening the case was “warranted in the interest of justice.” 

What has been most meaningful about working with Ayuda and your pro bono team?

Seeing what the result meant for our client and his mother. I’ll never forget calling her to share the news and hearing the emotion in her voice. Our client still has a long road ahead, but he now has a real chance to seek immigration relief and is one step closer to safety and stability. It is a rare privilege to make such a direct difference in someone’s life, and our team was honored to be trusted with his case. Ayuda’s commitment to its clients makes outcomes like this possible, and it extends well beyond any single filing.

Why is it important to you to make time for pro bono work alongside your regular practice?

I’ve always believed that being a lawyer carries a responsibility to serve the public. It’s especially rewarding to assist someone through one of the most consequential moments of their life. On this matter, colleagues across Latham’s D.C. office made time in already busy schedules, which reinforced for me the idea that pro bono isn’t something we fit in when it’s convenient at my firm. It’s part of what it means to be a member of this profession and to be at Latham. I’m grateful to work at a firm that values pro bono work, and alongside partners like Ayuda who make it possible.