Modrall Sperling attorneys participate in pro bono legal clinic

Eight Modrall Sperling attorneys participated in the New Mexico Immigrant Law Center’s Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) clinic, held at the Albuquerque Convention Center. Abby Bannon-Schneebeck, Liliana Benitez de Luna, Tessa Chrisman, Spencer Edelman, Chandler Farnworth, Chris Killion, Dominic Martinez and Jeremy Nickell assisted clients seeking SIJS, a status available to some young immigrants that provides a path to lawful permanent residence for that child.

To be eligible for SIJS, the child must be subject to a predicate order from a state court in which the court finds that the child has been abandoned, abused, or neglected by one or both parents. The New Mexico Immigrant Law Center relies on assistance from pro bono attorneys to obtain time-sensitive predicate orders necessary to begin SIJS proceedings. At the clinic, attorneys met with clients in person to complete this first step of their case.

Dominic Martinez said, “I was thrilled that we had such a great turnout of Modrall Sperling shareholders and associates at the New Mexico Immigrant Law Center’s SIJC Clinic. I’m grateful to work at a firm that not only encourages attorneys to pursue these meaningful pro bono opportunities, but also makes it workable for attorneys to take on pro bono matters, even with a busy schedule. We are still in the early stages of the firm’s collaboration with the NMILC, but I’m excited for what’s to come.”