Recognizing the role that private law firm attorneys may play in the delivery of legal services to the poor, as well as attorneys’ ethical obligations to render legal assistance to the disadvantaged, Immigration IMPACT (Involving More Pro bono Attorneys in our Communities Together) is part of a nationwide initiative that engages private attorneys in providing legal assistance targeted at the greatest unmet legal needs. IMPACT augments the legal assistance provided by HIAS-Pennsylvania (HIAS-PA) and the Nationalities Service Center (NSC) to immigrant victims of domestic violence and other violent crimes in stabilizing their immigration status. Assistance primarily focuses on applications under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), particularly in regard to vulnerable, immigrant women living in isolated communities in and around Philadelphia that are victims of gender-based violence. Participating law firms take turns on a rotating basis to provide intake assistance at monthly clinics, and attorneys volunteer to represent eligible clients in their immigration matters. HIAS-PA and NSC provide on-site expertise at the clinics and ongoing support for volunteers as they represent clients. IMPACT’s aim is to more than double the number of clients served at existing clinic sites without placing additional administrative costs or burdens on HIAS-PA and NSC, which previously were unable to meet the ongoing legal need for these services.
