Item 28 - Immigration Legal Defense Services

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EXHIBIT A 5 be closely supervised by the managing attorney, including weekly one-on-one scheduled check-ins to address any issues with their workloads. Weekly case review meetings will be held for all staff attorneys working on detained representation cases. These meetings will contain periodic trainings and peer-to- peer presentations on current legal trends and issues, including discussion of relevant case law updates. In addition, directing and managing attorneys will be available to discuss case strategy and substantive law questions. The meetings will also be opportunities for case review in a group setting, which maximizes resources and saves time. These workgroup meetings will be led by the managing attorney and, as needed, by the directing attorneys or executive director. Tracking Caseloads: ImmDef utilizes a case management software, Cerenade, which allows us to keep track of vital data on our cases including client biographical information, case milestone data, hearings, outcomes and filings. The Cerenade system allows our attorneys to input case notes, who are trained to log every case-related from phone calls to hearings. Our supervisors can review these case notes or data anytime to ensure that a given attorney's caseload is moving along properly, and to offer support for staff attorneys whose filing goals are not being met. In preparation for one-on-one check-ins with supervisees, our managing attorneys review the attorney's caseload by printing reports from Cerenade, and then address any questions or discrepancies they have observed. Responsibilities each staff will have in the program: Managing Attorney (for cases where they are not the primary attorney): • Review of legal filings and briefs • Support with development of case strategy • Support with preparation for trials • Monitoring workloads to ensure competency of representation • Overall responsibility for ensuring that data collection and submission protocols are being followed Staff Attorney: • Client screening and intake • Development of case theory and strategy • Keeping case notes and other case related data currentPreparing declarations and gathering evidence for cases • Preparing forms for legal filings with United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) • Writing legal briefs for immigration court • Preparing clients and families for immigration court • Appearing at all hearings for clients • Preparing and submitting any related appeals Paralegal: • Initial creation of client in case management system and creation of physical file • Assisting with calendaring and keeping communal calendars • Requesting criminal, immigration and other vital records • Filling out first drafts of immigration forms • As needed, assisting with declarations, particularly of family members