Program areas at Center For Gender And Refugee Studies- California
CGRS-California utilizes the affiliated Centers unique and efficient web-based interface to provide legal technical assistance to attorneys and other advocates representing asylum seekers throughout California. Advocates submit a request online, providing basic information about their clients country of origin, type of persecution feared, specific legal obstacles, and other relevant information. We review each submission and respond, generally within two business days, with tailored litigation resource materials that include, but are not limited to, practice advisories, in-depth manuals, model briefs, unpublished immigration court decisions, country conditions research, and expert witness referrals.In addition to our materials, CGRS-California provides to nonprofit legal service projects and pro bono attorneys one-on-one litigation support, including
consultations with junior and senior attorneys on legal theories and trial strategy, feedback on pleadings, review of evidentiary support materials, and other mentoring. With our individualized approach, each attorney we consult with is better equipped to handle his or her next case, thus leveraging and scaling our impact over time.