About ALP

Our Mission

The Asylum Law Project exists to provide a meaningful public interest opportunity for law students to provide pro bono legal assistance to organizations that work in the field of Asylum and/or Immigration Law. The Asylum Law Project fills a substantial need for legal assistance to immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers who seldom have access to competent legal representation. The Asylum Law Project allows first-year law students to gain experience in various aspects of the field of Immigration/Asylum Law. The Asylum Law Project strives to increase awareness regarding the struggles faced by immigrants and asylum seekers to both the UMN Law Student community, and the broader Minnesota community. The Asylum Law Project will endeavor to strengthen and support UMN Law Students in their journeys to become effective legal advocates.

Frequently asked questions

How does ALP work?

ALP is an organization maintained by first-year law students in order to serve first-year law students and L.L.M. students at the University of Minnesota. First year students submit applications that include their volunteer interest, experience, and language skills. The Board then matches those criteria with the needs of participating organizations. Participants volunteer on week-long service trips over the Winter or Spring Breaks, or ongoing experiences over the course of the Spring semester.

What will I do to volunteer?

The wide variety of volunteer services that ALP members provide depend on the needs of the host organization. These services include assisting organizations with client intake, completing and updating asylum applications, drafting client declarations, and researching country conditions. Students may visit detainment facilities and immigration court to accomplish this work. We offer a broad range of experiences, including remote, local, and onsite.

What else do I do as a member of ALP?

In addition to pro bono legal services provided over Winter and Spring breaks and Spring semester, members may also participate in opportunities over the course of the school year. Fundraising opportunities include the yearly Silent Auction and Give to the Max Day campaign. Other opportunities for service have included tutoring Afghan refugees, assisting at court clinics, and submitting comments to legislators.

Do I have to speak Spanish to volunteer with ALP?

No. However, some of the organizations require at least a couple of Spanish-speaking students on each trip because volunteers provide client-facing services and organization resources are limited. Therefore, Spanish-speaking students have the most flexibility in choosing which trip to attend.

There are many asylum seekers that do not speak Spanish. If you speak another language, for instance Somali or French, these language skills are also in demand in certain locations.

How can I prepare for my volunteer experience?

ALP provides informational sessions with University of Minnesota Law faculty to introduce students to the complexities and challenges they will face in the course of their work. Some community organizations will provide additional training to students prior to volunteering.

Any additional questions?

Feel free to email asylumlp@umn.edu or reach out to individual board members.