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Volunteer Opportunity Descriptions
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Volunteer Attorneys - Asylum Project

Lack of experience is not a barrier to providing pro bono representation to asylum seekers. Asylum cases are carefully screened by The Advocates for eligibility for asylum in the U.S. Volunteers are teamed with experienced immigration attorneys and have the support of the staff.  Volunteers are provided with a copy of The Advocates Volunteer Attorney Manual and are encouraged to attend the Annual Asylum Conference.  Practice Alerts keep volunteers updated on changes in law and procedure.

If you are interested in representing an asylum seeker, join probono.net/asylum, today and view a list of current asylum cases in need of volunteer attorneys.

Volunteer Attorneys - Immigration Practitioners

Attorneys practicing immigration law are urgently needed to serve as mentors to volunteer asylum attorneys and to provide help to clients at walk-in legal clinics and at detained master calendar hearings.

Volunteer Interpreters and Translators

Volunteer interpreters and translators can assist in preparing an client's application for asylum by interpreting at interviews and meetings with the client's attorney and immigration officials or by translating documents for an asylum case. The Advocates keeps a database of volunteer interpreters and translators to call upon as client needs are determined. If you are fluent in English and one or more other languages, and are interested in serving as a volunteer interpreter or translator, join our interpreter database today! Trainings for volunteer interpreters and translators are conducted twice per year. Email David Takassi at dtakassi@advrights.org for more information.

Volunteer Doctors, Psychiatrists and Psychologists

A professional evaluation of a client's physical and mental health is often a critical element supporting their asylum claim. Volunteer health professionals can help corroborate a client's claim that he or she was tortured in their country of origin, or that they have a credible fear of being tortured if they return to their country of origin.  By confirming that the client's physical and psychological symptoms are consistent with the type of abuse that the client reports, the volunteer health professional can support the client's credibility.  Licensed doctors, phychiatrists and psychologists who are interested in volunteering to assist low-income asylum clients can email Malinda Schmiechen at mschmiechen@advrights.org to learn more about how to become involved in providing this critical service.

Volunteer Accounting Assistant

The Advocates relies on volunteers to help with all aspects of the work in the organization.  Periodically we are in need of accounting assistance and other related duties.  The Volunteer Accounting Assistant helps to create and run financial reports so that all of our programs are managed efficiently.  No accounting experience is necessary, although familiarity with a computer is helpful.  Interested persons should email hrights@advrights.org or call 612.341.3302 to find our more about becoming a volunteer.

Volunteer for International Women's Day

Our 12th annual International Women's Day Celebration will take place on March 3, 2007.  Our planning begins in September and continues through early March, and we are looking for volunteers to help with a wide variety of event-planning tasks:

  • Overall planning as member of Steering Committee
  • Follow-up contacts with potential workshop presenters and co-sponsoring organizations
  • Food and beverage donations
  • Publicity
  • Mailings
  • Logistics - audio/visual needs for workshops and performances; display tables; food donations, set-up and clean-up
  • Volunteer coordination for the day of the event
  • Registration (and pre-registration)
  • Research on International Women's Day celebrations in other countries

Contact: Mary Hunt, 612-341-3302, ext. 107 or mhunt@advrights.org.

Volunteer Translators - Stop Violence Against Women

The Women's Human Rights Program is seeking a volunteer translator who is fluent in Russian or any of the languages used in the CEE/NIS region. The volunteer will assist with the Stop Violence Against Women website (www.stopvaw.org), which provides resources and message forums for women's advocates in Central and Eastern Europe, the Newly Independent States of the former Soviet Union, Mongolia and the U.N. Protectorate of Kosovo. The volunteer will translate training modules on domestic violence, sexual assault, sexual harassment, and trafficking from English to the applicable language. In addition, the volunteer may be asked to translate laws in the region from the applicable language to English. If interested, please contact Rose Park at 612-341-3302 ext. 106 or email rpark@advrights.org.