Katharine & George Alexander Community Law Center Continues Outstanding Legal Work

The Katharine & George Alexander Community Law Center had a busy and productive Summer and Fall this year.  Thanks to the work performed by its many law students, the KGACLC also became the stage for the resolution of complex issues faced by its clients in the areas of Immigration, Workers’ Rights, Workers’ Compensation and Consumer Rights.  The purpose of an upcoming sequence of similar articles is to acknowledge our students and their work, and to applaud our hard-working clients who, in many cases, are the recipients of life-changing relief in one of the Community Law Center’s legal areas. 

In Immigration, students literally changed lives when their efforts resulted in immigration relief for their clients.  These involved eight successful cases under VAWA (the Violence Against Women Act), five successful U-visas, (reserved for victims of crimes), one granted political asylum case, one granted permanent residence case for a minor, and a humanitarian reinstatement case.  In some cases, students continued the work done by students from a previous semester(s), and sometimes students achieved a resolution within the same semester.

These are the VAWA Cases:

Jessica Johnston (3L) and Christine Keller (3L) successfully represented a battered spouse in her applications for battered spouse petition and permanent residence.  Ms. O was the victim of severe physical and emotional violence at the hands of her husband.  When she divorced him, he took her daughters away from her.  As a result of the dedicated work by Jessica and Christine, Citizenship and Immigration Services granted Ms. O lawful permanent residence in the United States. 

Paola Estanislao (3L) and Gabriela Avila (4L) successfully represented Ms. M, a battered spouse of a United States citizen.  Gabriela and Paola spent many hours preparing a detailed declaration, forms, and supporting documents on behalf of Ms. M.  As a result, their client now has permanent residence in the United States.

Laurie Erwin (SCU law graduate) and Carmela Woll (SCU law graduate) skillfully represented  Ms. M and her daughter.  The clients suffered severe verbal and emotional abuse from Ms. M’s United States citizen husband.  Laurie and Carmela worked tirelessly to prepare and submit applications for Ms. M and her daughter.  Citizenship and Immigration Services granted permanent residence status to both mother and daughter.

Laura Chambers (SCU law graduate) and Christine Keller (3L) successfully resolved a case on behalf of the battered spouse/widow of a United States citizen.  Ms. V suffered severe emotional abuse at the hands of her United States citizen husband.  Because he died before her petition for VAWA was filed, Ms. V had to wait for several years for the Department of Justice/Department of Homeland Security to issue new regulations in order for her petition to finally be adjudicated and granted by Citizenship and Immigration Services.  Ms. V is now eligible to apply for permanent residence in the United States.

Rebecca Andrews (SCU law graduate) successfully represented of Ms. E., who suffered severe emotional abuse and some physical abuse at the hands of her United States citizen husband.  Rebecca prepared Ms. E’s declaration, forms and supporting documents.  Ms. E. has been granted lawful status in the United States and permission to work lawfully.  She is currently waiting for her interview for permanent residence.

Jenny Ross (3L) worked diligently on behalf of her client. Ms. V suffered both physical and emotional abuse at the hands of her permanent resident husband.  Jenny successfully represented Ms. V in her application for lawful status and employment authorization.

Inna Petrovsky (3L) successfully represented  Ms. H. She is the abused spouse of a United States citizen.  Inna and Carlota Montes (a volunteer U.C. Berkeley undergraduate student) assisted Ms. H to prepare her applications and documents.  Ms. H has been granted lawful status and employment authorization.

Leta Singfield (3L) skillfully represented  Ms. R-M, who is the battered spouse of a permanent resident.  She suffered both physical and emotional abuse.  As a result of Leta’s hard work, Citizenship and Immigration Services granted Ms. R-M lawful status and employment authorization in the United States.