The following is a list of frequently asked questions. If you have a question that is not answered here, please submit either the Information Request Form or, if you are a CLINIC member, the Affiliate Support form.

 

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General CLINIC Training Questions

Who can register for a CLINIC training?

CLINIC trainings are open to the staff and volunteers of CLINIC affiliates, any other nonprofit agency, and private attorneys and their staff. Independent non-attorney legal workers are not eligible to register for CLINIC trainings.

I am a government employee. Can I register for a CLINIC training?

If you are a government employee, you may not register for this training without prior authorization from CLINIC. You may request permission to register by contacting CLINIC at training@cliniclegal.org.

How do I register for a CLINIC training?

All registration for CLINIC trainings is conducted on our website. Before you register for any training, you must create a user account on our website. If you do not have a user account already, visit cliniclegal.org/user to get started.

I have a user account but I forgot my username or password. What can I do?

If you forgot your username, please email training@cliniclegal.org for assistance. If you forgot your password, please go to cliniclegal.org/user and click on the “Request new password” tab.

Can I share my user account with other staff at my agency or law office?

Every individual who wants to register for a CLINIC training needs to create an individual user account which should not be shared with other colleagues. Each user account should relate to a separate individual in the agency with an email address specific to that person.

Is there a deadline for training registration?

All CLINIC training announcements include the registration deadline. Generally, registration closes the day before the training commences unless the training is already at capacity.

I do not have funds to register for a training. Does CLINIC offer training scholarships?

CLINIC does not provide scholarships for fee-based training unless otherwise noted in the training information on the CLINIC website. Note that CLINIC offers many webinars without fee and has several webinar recordings posted on the CLINIC website.

Are CLE credits provided for all your trainings?

CLINIC is authorized by the State Bar of California to provide minimum continuing legal education (MCLE) training. CLINIC’s e-learning immigration law courses are generally either 75 or 90 minutes long. If you are a California attorney, you are eligible to claim 1.15 or 1.5 hours of MCLE credits for each live webinar you attend in our e-learning immigration law courses. To receive MCLE credit, please provide your state bar number when you register for each live webinar. You may seek self-study CLE credit for viewing any recorded webinars posted on the course website. If you are an attorney licensed in another state, please check with your state bar to determine whether this training qualifies for MCLE credit.

Are training certificates issued for all trainings?

Training certificates are issued for attendance at live webinars, virtual workshops, and in-person trainings, and for completion of all e-course requirements. We are not able to issue certificates of attendance for viewing recorded webinars that are not part of an e-course.

What training is right for my level of experience?

CLINIC conducts a wide variety of trainings, including those geared to the new practitioner and those directed at experienced practitioners. The training description and draft agenda include a detailed description of the topics to be covered which should help you decide if the training is presented at a level appropriate to your knowledge and experience. You may also contact the training instructor listed in the training flier for more information about the training level. Note that “Introductory” and “Overview” trainings are designed for the practitioner who does not have experience in the training topic.

What training should I take if I am seeking initial accreditation or to support the renewal of my accreditation?

CLINIC ‘s resources on initial accreditation and renewal of accreditation describe all eligibility requirements for seeking and renewing accredited representative status, including obtaining appropriate training. To access these CLINIC resources, click here.

How do I receive announcements of upcoming trainings?

You can sign up to receive CLINIC training and webinar announcements by visiting the CLINIC website at https://cliniclegal.org/email and subscribing to all categories of emails you’d like to receive.

 

E-learning Courses

How do I access a CLINIC e-course website?

Each CLINIC e-course has a corresponding course website with course self-study materials and webinar recordings posted after the webinar is conducted. If you don't have a user account for our e-learning site (also known as Moodle), you will be sent a username and password to access the course website. The course page becomes available on the course opening date noted in the confirmation email. Note that you cannot access the course website through the CLINIC website.

I have taken an e-learning course and already have a username and password. Can I continue to use the same one?

If you already have a username and password from participating in a prior e-course, you should use them to access any new e-course you take.

I forgot my e-learning username. What can I do?

If you forgot your username, please email us at training@cliniclegal.org

What if I can’t make all the scheduled live webinars for my e-learning course?

All live course webinars are recorded and posted on the course website so you can listen to the recording at your convenience.

What is required to receive a course completion certificate in an e-learning course?

All e-learning courses specify the course completion requirements; generally students are required to complete certain self-study requirements in addition to attending or viewing recordings of all course webinars. Each course specifies a deadline for completion of required activities.

 

Webinar/Webinar Series

I registered with CLINIC for the webinar but did not receive further information about confirmation or instructions. What should I do?

Please e-mail us at training@cliniclegal.org. Be sure to include the name of the training and the e-mail address you used to register.

If I bought a webinar series, where do I find the recordings for the webinar series?

You will receive instructions on how to access the course site and materials a week prior to the first webinar in the series. The recordings will be posted on the course site within 24 hours after the conclusion of the webinar. Individuals who purchase a webinar series have access to posted recordings of all webinars in the series for 30 days following the last webinar.

I purchased an individual webinar. Can I access the recording(s) for the webinar(s) I purchased?

Access to the recording for fee-based single-live webinars is not provided. Select free single-live webinar recordings may be posted on our Webinar Archive page within 24-48 hours. The status of whether a webinar recording will be made available, or not, is noted on each corresponding calendar event page.

Will I get a certificate?

CLINIC issues certificates of attendance to everyone who attended a live webinar within 24 hours after the webinar is conducted. Certificates of attendance can only be issued to those who individually signed into the live webinar; if you listened to the live webinar with others but did not separately register for the webinar, you will not receive a certificate.

What are the training fees?

These are our training fees for 2025. Unless otherwise specified in a training announcement, we do not have training scholarships or discounts.

	Affiliates	Nonprofit Agency Staff	Attorneys and Staff
Webinars	$35	$90	$145
Two-Part Webinar Series*	$70	$150	$240
Three-Part Webinar Series*	$105	$215	$345
Four-Part Webinar Series*	$140	$275	$450
E-Course (4 week)*	$240	$300	$460
E-Course (6 week)*	$320	$380	$520
COIL: Comprehensive Overview of Immigration Law*	$495	$565	$680
In-person/Virtual Workshop (One Day)	$120	$160	$235
In-person (Two Days)	$275	$335	$475

*Access to the webinar recordings are provided with your purchase.

For other large conference events, please see specific information related to that event.

 

Refund Policy

I registered for an online training. Can I receive a refund if I cancel my registration?

All registration changes or cancellations are subject to an administrative charge of $70.00. Please note that CLINIC can only issue refunds for an e-learning course until one week prior to the course opening date. There are no refunds for webinars, webinar series, or rapid e-learning courses.

I registered for an in-person/virtual workshop training. Can I receive a refund if I cancel my registration?

Requests for refunds will be accepted up to one week (7 days) prior to the start of the training. All refunds are subject to an administrative charge of $100.00. Cancellations for Convening are subject to an administrative charge of $100.00 and must be requested up to two weeks (14 days) prior to the start of training.

I registered for a training more than 4 months ago and now I can’t attend. Can I receive a refund if I cancel my registration?

Requests for refunds must occur within 110 days of the original transaction.

I registered for an in-person/virtual workshop training but can no longer attend. Can I transfer my registration?

Registration can only be transferred within an organization. There are no extra charges or fees to transfer your registration. All transfer requests must be submitted no later than 5:00 pm EST the day prior to the start of the training.

Didn’t find the answer to your question?

Please email us at training@cliniclegal.org

 

DOJ Accreditation Training Questions

How much immigration law do I need to know to qualify for initial DOJ accreditation?

Case decisions issued by the DOJ require candidates for accredited representative status to have a broad knowledge of immigration law and procedure. This means that you need to have an immigration law background that enables you to spot issues or remedies that may relate to services not provided by your agency. For example, even if your agency does not represent asylum applicants, the DOJ wants to know that you have enough knowledge of immigration law to recognize when this remedy may apply to someone you counsel.

What are the training requirements for initial accreditation?

The DOJ requires that applicants for initial accreditation have recently completed at least one formal training course providing an overview of immigration law. An overview training is one that covers the fundamentals of immigration law and procedure and shows how different sections of immigration law are interconnected and affect other areas of law.

In addition to requiring one formal overview training for initial accreditation, the DOJ has also addressed what issues it considers to be part of core training on immigration law. This includes routes to permanent resident status, inadmissibility grounds and waivers, the removal process and relief from removal, humanitarian remedies and naturalization, as well as practice skills including research and writing, interviewing, case management, and ethics.

If you are working for an agency or program that specializes in a particular type of service (e.g. VAWA and U visa applications), you also need to show that you have training directed to that specialty area.

How can CLINIC help me get the training I need to qualify for initial accreditation?

Applicants for initial accreditation must establish that they have broad knowledge and adequate experience in immigration law and have taken at least one recent formal overview of immigration law course. CLINIC offers a course that meets this requirement: Comprehensive Overview Immigration Law (COIL) e-learning course. This course will be offered several times a year.

What is the Comprehensive Overview of Immigration Law (COIL)?

CLINIC offers an intensive eight-week e-course for the aspiring or new practitioner who is prepared to make the time commitment required to fully participate in this course and complete its requirements. The course has an accelerated pace, including two 75-minute webinars each week, as well as self-directed learning activities to support each course unit.

Overall, a course participant should expect to spend between 8 and 10 hours each week to attend or listen to recordings of the weekly webinars, and complete the corresponding course activities. Course completion also requires achieving a passing grade on an open-book final exam.

If you have the time to devote to this learning experience, then this course is a great way to quickly learn the fundamentals of immigration law and establish the training background to support an application for DOJ accreditation.

Will I be accredited by taking only the COIL course?

We recommend supplementing the COIL course with additional 90 minute webinars or other substantive immigration law trainings. CLINIC regularly offers additional trainings (webinar, webinar series, e-course, in-person) which address specific issues in immigration law covering topics of common interest to immigration legal practitioners and a review of the latest developments in immigration law and procedure. Visit our training calendar to learn about upcoming trainings.

If I do not have time for a e-learning course or the COIL, does CLINIC offer other types of training?

In addition to extended courses on core immigration issues, CLINIC also regularly offers webinars on specialized topics in immigration law. These 90-minute presentations can help deepen your knowledge about a particular immigration law issue and bring you up-to-date on legal developments. However, webinars alone would not be sufficient to support an application for accredited representative status.

Do I need any special training to qualify for full accreditation?

Full-accredited representatives can represent individuals in immigration court and in appeals before the DOJ. For this reason, an applicant for full-accredited representative status needs to show the DOJ that she or he has legal research and writing skills and training in trial and appellate advocacy. CLINIC has sponsored court skills training for non-attorney legal workers in the past and may provide this training again, depending on demand.

Do I need to continue to get training to renew my accredited representative status?

Yes, you need to participate in training on an ongoing basis after becoming an accredited representative. Immigration law and procedure is constantly changing, and training helps you keep abreast of these changes as well as deepen and strengthen your knowledge and your practice skills. DOJ notes that renewal requests should provide documentation that the accredited representative has received additional formal training in immigration law since the most recent accreditation. Visit our training calendar to learn about upcoming training opportunities and be sure to keep a good record of all trainings attended with the date, title, provider, type of training, agenda, and certificate.

How can CLINIC help me deepen my knowledge and skills after I am accredited?

Check CLINIC's training calendar and website to look for the courses that will provide you with training in new practice areas (e.g., waivers, removal, citizenship, crimes, humanitarian relief, and selected issues in naturalization) or deepen your knowledge of immigration law through more advanced coverage of particular immigration law issues or new policies affecting your practice. In addition, CLINIC's webinars provide focused coverage and updates on immigration law and procedure and can help you document your ongoing training as an accredited representative.

Whom should I contact if I have more questions about what training I should take?

If you have questions about a particular course, contact the person listed on the course flier for more information about the training content. For other general questions about training and appropriate courses to take for DOJ accreditation, CLINIC affiliates may submit a question via the Affiliate Support form. If you are not a current CLINIC affiliate, you may submit a question via our Information Request Form.

 

Affiliation FAQs

General Information

Who are CLINIC Affiliates?

CLINIC’s Affiliate network represents the vibrant diversity of local groups defending immigrants and facilitating their integration. Our Affiliates include libraries, affordable housing nonprofits, refugee service organizations, domestic violence survivor assistance programs, labor unions, and more. Affiliate agencies provide authorized immigration legal representation from attorneys and/or Department of Justice (DOJ) accredited representatives at the partial or full level. While hundreds of attorneys work in the network, most staff are accredited representatives. Staff range in their years of legal experience, areas of expertise and non-English language options. These individuals provide the bulk of the direct, charitable legal services to communities across the country.

Are there different types of CLINIC affiliation?

All organizations receiving CLINIC benefits are referred to as Affiliates. CLINIC no longer differentiates between Subscriber and Member organizations.

Eligibility

What are the eligibility requirements for CLINIC affiliation?

To be eligible to apply for CLINIC affiliation, an organization must have held valid 501 (c) 3 or 501 (c) 5 IRS tax designation for at least 12 months prior to applying. Additionally, the organization must be authorized to provide immigration legal services.

How is a program authorized to provide immigration legal services?

A program can be authorized to provide immigration legal services in two ways:

1. The program has immigration attorneys on staff (or as regular volunteers)
2. The program is Recognized by the Department of Justice and has at least one Accredited Representative on staff or as a volunteer.

My organization is not yet Recognized by the Department of Justice, but we plan to apply soon. Can we apply for CLINIC Affiliation?

Currently, only agencies who have already obtained authorization are eligible to apply for CLINIC Affiliation. Organizations who are working toward authorization through DOJ Recognition can apply to join CLINIC’s Capacity Building Institute. You can find out more information here.

If we submitted our DOJ R&A application, but are awaiting a decision, can we apply to join as Affiliates?

No. To be eligible for affiliation, a DOJ R&A application cannot be in process. This includes renewal applications. Please wait until you receive approval from DOJ before applying to join CLINIC as an Affiliate.

If we have authorization through attorneys and also want to pursue DOJ R&A, can we apply to join as Affiliates?

Yes. As long as your organization has authorization to provide immigration legal services, you are eligible to join as Affiliates. Benefits include access to DOJ R&A application support.

How do I apply for CLINIC Affiliation?

If you are interested in becoming an Affiliate, please use the Information Request Form and select "I am interested in learning more about joining the CLINIC Network.”

Status

What happens if a CLINIC Affiliate loses authorization to practice immigration law?

If an organization who has authorization through attorneys on staff no longer employs an attorney, they are considered unauthorized and will move to Inactive Status.

If an organization who has authorization through DOJ Recognition and Accreditation loses its DOJ Recognition and/or all of their Accredited Staff, they are considered unauthorized and will move to Inactive Status.

What is the difference between Active and Inactive status?

Affiliates with authorization to practice immigration law have Active status and have access to all Affiliate benefits. Organizations who do not have authorization to practice immigration law have Inactive status and will not have access to Ask the Experts or Case Escalation forms.

What happens if our program loses authorization in the middle of the year? Can we renew our Affiliation before regaining authorized status?

If your program loses authorization to provide immigration legal services, it is your responsibility to notify us using the Affiliate Support Form. Organizations can remain inactive for up to one year before they must regain authorization. If authorization is not obtained within the one-year period, affiliation may be terminated for the rest of the year without a refund.

If we do not renew our Affiliation, and we want to re-join CLINIC in the future, what is the process? Will we have to go through the application process again?

If your agency has been an Affiliate within the past 2 years, we can reactivate your Affiliation without having to reapply. Your organization will have to provide proof of authorization. If it has been more than 2 years since your organization has been an Affiliate, you may need to reapply. Please contact us using the Information Request Form.

Benefits

What are CLINIC affiliation benefits?

Training and Technical Assistance

• Technical support for substantive immigration law questions.
• Technical support for Department of Justice Recognition and Accreditation.
• Technical support on sustaining and improving an immigration program.
• Legal and program management tools, toolkits, practice advisories, training manuals, and other resources to enhance your practice and better serve clients. 
• Discount registration for CLINIC trainings and annual Convening.
• CLINIC’s monthly e-newsletters.

For more information about CLINIC's training and technical assistance, please watch this video.

Advocacy Support

• Strategy guidance on state and local legislative issues.
• CLINIC’s Topline Immigration Policy, or TIPs Updates.
• CLINIC Affiliate Advocacy listserv.
• Monthly State and Local newsletter.
• E-Advocacy Action Alerts.
• Case escalation support

Other Benefits

• Affiliates-only section of CLINIC's website for resources and support.
• CLINIC's web-based Job Board to advertise and search for the best applicants in the country.
• Discount pricing for various case management software.
• Consultations with experts on immigrant and community integration initiatives.
• Periodic flow-through funding opportunities.

FastVisa and Equifax Discounts for CLINIC Affiliates

CLINIC Affiliates seeking case management solutions and support can now enjoy discounts with both FastVisa and Equifax Immigration Case Management. We continue to pursue additional case management discount options in our effort to support our network.

Do you have agreements with case management software companies to offer discounts?

Equifax Immigration Case Management and FastVisa provide discounts to CLINIC Affiliates. Contact them directly to find out more.

Authorized Legal Service Providers

Who is considered an authorized legal service provider?

Authorized legal service providers are staff members who are legally eligible to offer immigration legal services without supervision. This includes:

• Attorneys who are licensed in any state
• Accredited Representatives at organizations that are Recognized by the Department of Justice

We have attorneys on staff (or as volunteers) who don’t provide immigration legal services. Do they count as an authorized legal service provider?

No, they do not count as an authorized legal service provider for the calculation of annual dues.

We work with law students and/or law school graduates who are not yet licensed. Do they count as authorized legal service providers?

No, they do not count as an authorized legal service provider for the calculation of annual dues.

Will all staff members at my agency have access to the same benefits?

Authorized Legal Service Providers (defined above) will have access to all CLINIC Benefits. They are the only staff members who will have access to Ask the Experts and Case Escalation. All other staff members at an agency who are not authorized legal service providers will have access to all CLINIC benefits except for Ask the Experts and Case Escalation.

Are we required to include all our authorized legal service providers in our affiliation? For example, we have 15 on staff, but we only need two of the attorneys to receive benefits.

Although Affiliate dues are based on the number of authorized legal service providers, we encourage you to list all immigration legal staff to ensure they receive access to Affiliate benefits.

Pricing

How much is CLINIC affiliation?

Yearly affiliation dues range from $1,800 to $3,600, depending on the number of Authorized Legal Service Providers at an agency. To learn more, go here.

What price does our program pay if we join CLINIC in the middle of the year?

Programs that join after June 1 will pay half of the price of their tier for the remainder of the calendar year. Full dues will be paid at the beginning of the following year.

Is the tiered pricing structure fixed for the whole year? What if our number of staff changes during the year?

If the number of your staff changes during the year, moving you to a different tier, please contact us using the Affiliate Support Form so that we can adjust your dues accordingly.

Do you offer payment plans for affiliation dues?

No, dues must be paid in full at the time of joining the network or at the time of renewal.

Can we pay Affiliate dues by check?

No, we are only able to process payments via credit card or ACH.

Do you offer scholarships?

Unfortunately, CLINIC does not offer scholarships for Affiliate Dues at this time.

Accounts and Access

How do new staff members at Affiliate agencies gain access to Affiliate benefits?

New staff members will need to create a username and password. Once created, email us at info@cliniclegal.org to activate your account in our system.

How can my organization change our Primary Account Manager or Secondary Account Manager?

To change this contact information, please contact us using the Affiliate Support Form.

I am an Affiliate, but I can’t see the Affiliate Portal, access ATE, access discounts for trainings. What should I do?

Make sure you are logged in. If you still can’t see it, email us at info@cliniclegal.org. 

If you have more questions that were not answered here, please contact us using the Affiliate Support Form.

Is our program required to sign the Affiliate Agreement?

All Affiliates are required to sign the Affiliate Agreements. If an agency has questions or concerns, please contact us through the Affiliate Support Form.