By Melina Torres
As I prepare for my second year of law school at Santa Clara University, I am bringing with me a fortified knowledge of immigration law. Although I was always intrigued by immigration law, as being a daughter of Mexican immigrants has shown me first-hand the effects of immigration policies, it wasn’t until I became a Project Coordinator for the LIBRE Team that my passion for immigration law solidified. I helped translate documents, interpret client calls, and listen to client intakes. After half a year of serving as a Project Coordinator, I decided to advance my legal career and attend law school. With the help of the wonderful attorneys from the LIBRE team, I was given the opportunity to return as the Carl L. McConnell Summer Fellow.
In ten short weeks, I was able to dip my feet in a variety of immigration cases – SIJS, U-Visa, VAWA, and DACA renewals. I translated immigration forms for clients, attended court hearings in probate and family court, and assisted in other components of cases. For example, I helped clients obtain police reports from law enforcement in order to receive the requisite certification for a U-Visa application. This included contacting police departments all over San Mateo County, as well as the San Mateo County District Attorney’s office.
I remember being so confused by all the different form numbers for immigration forms on my first day of the fellowship – I thought to myself “How does anyone retain all this information?” Believe it or not, it’s possible! After filling out several forms, I can now identify which form numbers belong to employment authorization applications, VAWA petitions, SIJS petitions, and many more.
I have also had the opportunity to shadow court hearings and work on declarations with clients. These invaluable experiences allowed me to connect with clients in a way that wasn’t possible as a Project Coordinator. Working side-by-side with Legal Aid SMC attorneys gave me the opportunity to look at immigration work through a different lens. I learned how to solve problems without being afraid of asking questions. As a McConnell Fellow, I learned that it’s okay to not have the answer – you just need to have the tools to figure it out.
I look forward to applying my newly acquired knowledge and skills to my immigration clinic this upcoming semester. I want to thank the LIBRE team and especially my mentor this summer, Tseada Berhanu, for supporting me throughout my legal journey.