HRI recruits and trains legal professionals to provide pro bono representation for our clients through the Pro Bono Program. Since 2000, HRI staff have trained more than 620 attorneys to represent clients on a pro bono basis.
Last year lawyers donated more than $2.8 million dollars of pro bono time to our clients. Since the agency’s inception, HRI has won 87% of its asylum cases and 99% of all its other legal cases. Pro bono attorneys are the backbone of HRI’s success.
You do not have to be an attorney specializing in immigration and nationality law. We offer group CLE trainings and individual training to all of our pro bono attorneys. HRI will also provide each pro bono with a link and password to download our Training Manual, Human Rights Initiative of North Texas: A Pro Bono Guide. The training manual provides detailed information on each of our pro bono programs as well as practice pointers and ethical considerations.
As a Pro Bono attorney with HRI, you will be mentored by our staff program attorneys. HRI’s staff attorneys share resources, review documents, and are available to answer any questions.
We are dedicated to representing our clients and assisting our volunteers in a manner consistent with the highest standards of dignity and professionalism.
HRI continuously seeks legal volunteers to assist with:
- Affirmative asylum cases
- Representation of clients at the Houston Asylum Office
- Representation of clients at trial before the Executive Office of Immigration Review (the Dallas Immigration Court)
- Representation of a child seeking relief based on Special Immigrant Juvenile Status
- Representation of men, women, and children seeking relief under the Violence Against Women Act
- Representation of men, women, and children seeking relief under the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act through a U-Visa