The Statewide Training and Assistance Network

Catholic Charities' Immigration Legal Services Program is seeking volunteer attorneys to provide legal representation to individuals with immigration needs on a pro bono basis to assist clients and raise awareness of the need for practitioners in immigration law. 

The Statewide Training and Assistance Network (STAN) is a joint project of Catholic Charities, Diocese of Cleveland Immigration Legal Services Program and the Ohio Access to Justice Foundation that aims to train and support a network of volunteer attorneys to provide critically needed representation to residents of Ohio with immigration needs. STAN is able to recruit volunteer attorneys who may not have experience in immigration law, but who are licensed to practice law in good standing in the State of  Ohio.* The STAN legal coordinator is an experienced immigration attorney who provides guidance in a mentoring capacity to licensed attorneys who accept a case from start to completion, and who are interested in learning more about the practice of immigration law. 

STAN launched in the wake of the August 2021 U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan and subsequent Taliban takeover, when the U.S. welcomed more than 80,000 at-risk Afghans in one of the largest humanitarian evacuations in history. STAN was created as an emergency response to address the immediate legal needs of the thousands of Afghan asylum seekers who chose Ohio as their new home. The response from the Ohio legal community was enormous. Hundreds of attorneys have gone through STAN’s training and expressed their willingness to provide crucial legal services pro bono. Because of that incredible response, STAN has expanded to include other volunteer opportunities and continues to grow. 

Current Volunteer Opportunities

Represent Afghan Asylum Seekers (Statewide)

Hundreds of Afghan nationals in Ohio need attorneys to represent them in applying for asylum. A grant of asylum means  safety in the U.S., a path to U.S. citizenship, and a chance for the asylee’s spouse and children to join them in safety in the U.S.  

Represent Haitian Temporary Protected Status (TPS) Applicants (Springfield, Ohio)

Citizens of Haiti who meet certain requirements may be eligible for temporary permission to live and work in the U.S. Volunteer attorneys are needed to prepare and submit TPS applications.

Represent Ukrainian Temporary Protected Status (TPS) Applicants (Cleveland, Ohio)

Citizens of Ukraine who meet certain requirements may be eligible for temporary permission to live and work in the U.S. Volunteer attorneys are needed to prepare and submit TPS applications.

*attorneys licensed to practice law in good standing in any state may be eligible;; professional liability (malpractice) insurance coverage is available to eligible attorneys who may require separate coverage for engaging in pro bono representation of clients;  translation and interpretation services are available to clients, as needed; mentoring by an experienced immigration lawyer is available to licensed attorneys in good standing who do not have experience in the practice of immigration law but who agree to commit to and complete trainings provided by STAN through the Pro Bono Coordinator. For more information, click the button below or email Morgen Morrissette

Volunteer Form

Mentorship, Training, or Support Opportunities

If your organization or firm is interested in providing pro bono immigration legal services for Afghan asylum seekers or TPS applicants of any nationality but needs training or mentorship, we may be able to provide support.

Click the button below and fill out the information form and a member of our team will get back to you! 

Information Form

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