American Immigration Lawyers Association Chicago Chapter

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Pro Bono Bond Project

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About the Pro Bono Bond Project

The Chicago Chapter Pro Bono Bond Project was founded to provide legal services to detained immigrants in Chicago’s ICE district to support their release on bond. More often than not, detainees are subjected to unnecessary separation from their families despite their eligibility for bond release. Detainees are much more likely to be granted release if they are represented by an attorney. In an effort to keep families united, prevent the loss of income, and support the Midwest immigrant community, the Pro Bono Bond Project regularly seeks attorneys to take pro bono bond cases before the Chicago Immigration Court and telephonically before the Kansas City Immigration Court.

The Pro Bono Bond Project partners with non-profit organizations in the Chicagoland area for case acceptance. These organizations pre-screen each detained client’s case to determine eligibility for bond and whether the client is otherwise unable to obtain legal services. If our partner organizations determine a case is likely eligible for bond, we receive the request for pro bono legal services and connect the client with a volunteer attorney. Please click on the “Taking a Pro Bono Case” to learn more about joining the project. Each case takes an average of 8 hours or less to prepare and represent in court. Whether you take one or ten cases in a year, your efforts make a meaningful impact on our community and directly benefit immigrant families in need.

Taking a Pro Bono Case:

Email us at probonobondproject@gmail.com to request addition to the Pro Bono Attorneys list. When there is a need for legal services, we send an email blast via the Pro Bono Bond Project listserv to seek support for new cases.  All case information is communicated electronically. Once you sign up for a case, you may begin working on it right away. How frequently you accept a case is completely up to you. We look forward to hearing from you!

What if I’ve Never Represented a Detained Client?

We welcome attorneys from all practice areas to support the Pro Bono Bond Project. We provide live trainings throughout the year and have practice pointer materials which we can email to you. If you have never represented a client at a bond hearing, we recommend attending a training (1 hour) or connecting with one of our Pro Bono Bond Project committee members for support during your case. Don’t hesitate to contact us with questions on case strategy at probonobondproject@gmail.com.

Contact:

probonobondproject@gmail.com

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