LAW 7801 - Asylum and Convention Against Torture Appellate Clinic

(CU-CEL)

Fall or Spring. 4 credits. Letter grades only (S/U grades with permission of instructor).

Permission of instructor required. This course may require off premises travel. Satisfies the experiential learning requirement.

I. Kysel.

Students will learn asylum, Convention Against Torture, and immigration law in class lectures, readings, and while representing clients. Most students will represent clients on appeal before the Board of Immigration Appeals, although the Clinic does accept federal petitions for review and cases before asylum officers from time to time. Students will also learn advanced legal writing techniques, including appellate strategies, persuasive storytelling, the use of expert reports, and effective argument within complex legal frameworks. Students will work in teams to complete all tasks necessary to zealously represent their client, including drafting an appellate brief, affidavits, and motions; maintaining client contact; and locating expert and other witnesses. In addition, students will develop litigation skills such as advanced legal research, case theory development, factual development and analysis (including interviewing, transcript review, and international human rights research), collaboration, cultural competency, and self-evaluation. Students will learn to overcome the unique challenges attorneys face when representing clients from diverse economic and cultural backgrounds, as well as clients who are incarcerated. The instructors will consider the following factors (in no particular order) when admitting students: commitment to public interest or immigration law work, legal writing and research ability, and collegiality. For more information about the Clinic, visit the clinic website: http://www.lawschool.cornell.edu/academics/clinicalprogram/Asylum-Clinic/index.cfm