Advancing access to the Recognition and Accreditation Program through robust, skills-based training.

The Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc. (CLINIC), is pleased to announce a court skills training opportunity for Partially Accredited Representatives who want to qualify and apply for full accreditation to represent clients in immigration court.

The Partial to Full Accreditation Initiative will guide participants through activities, webinars, and readings geared toward learning the skills essential for effective litigation as required for full accreditation. The initiative will culminate in a 3-day court skills training in Dallas, Texas, from Feb. 3-5, 2026. During the in-person training, participants will learn essential skills from CLINIC faculty and will practice with exercises on direct examination, objections, re-direct examination, preparing for cross examination, and closing arguments. CLINIC faculty will provide individualized feedback after each performance.

Alumni of our previous classes shared this feedback:

Fantastic and challenging course. I felt pushed (in a good way) and loved working with the same breakout group. Instructors were top notch!”

This initiative demystified immigration court for me. I feel confident I can represent clients in removal proceedings. Of course, I will have to gain experience as anybody would, but I have no doubt I have the foundation and the resources to continue to successfully grow."

I thoroughly enjoyed this training. It was a lot of information to process but it was delivered in such a way that it was easy to connect the dots and our trainers were so personable and kind. Thank you for this opportunity. It was priceless."

The training was much more than what I expected. All of the trainers were very knowledgeable and willing to share the experiences of their beginnings, including the IJ. I really appreciated that. I have nothing other than positive things to say about this training. It was an amazing experience."

Great job! The structure of the training not only took care of the learning necessities but also the psychological predisposition of the participants. The structure broke barriers such as shyness, fear of public speaking, and lack of self confidence, and it also brought joy into the material that at times could be very heavy."

The program was thoughtfully structured, with each day's focus clearly outlined and predictable, which allowed me to mentally prepare and engage fully with the material. One of the highlights was hearing directly from practicing attorneys and a former immigration judge. Their insights, practical advice, and real-world anecdotes added depth and clarity to the complex issues we tackled. I particularly appreciated their willingness to answer questions and share strategies for navigating the courtroom. The level of participation throughout the training was excellent. It was both challenging and, at times, a bit intimidating — but that's precisely what made it so rewarding. Engaging in hands-on activities and discussions helped solidify my understanding and boosted my confidence in handling courtroom scenarios."

If interested in this opportunity…

Please register and attend the informational webinar on July 18, 2025. If you cannot attend live, the recording will be accessible after the live webinar concludes. We recommend watching it before submitting your application.

Applicants will receive notification of their selection status by Aug. 22 and, if selected for this training, your organization must 1) sign and submit the Agreement form agreeing to meet the requirements of the training and 2) submit the training fee ($650 for Affiliates or $750 for non-Affiliates) by Sept. 5.

• To review the sample Project Timeline and Summary of Steps, please click here.
• To review a sample Agreement, please click here.
• The application for the P2F 2025 will be available after the informational webinar on June 18.

Prior to attending the court skills training, participants must:

• View webinar recordings and complete required quizzes and activities related to removal defense practice through an e-learning course online platform.
• Identify an in-house/local attorney or fully accredited representative mentor and make arrangements to obtain hands-on immigration court experience through your mentor as soon as possible.
• Observe a master calendar or individual hearing in immigration court and submit reflections in writing.
• Study the training materials, including a case file that we will use during the court skills training.
• Complete a case assessment exercise based on the case file.

Other initiative requirements:

• Participate in the in-person 3-day court skills training that will be held in Dallas, Texas, from Feb. 3-5, 2026.
• Complete a legal writing training and submit a legal writing assignment that can be used as a writing sample in support of the full accreditation application.
• Upon completion of the in-person court skills training, collect documentation for the application for full accreditation and work with CLINIC to finalize and submit the application to DOJ’s Office of Legal Access Programs (OLAP).
• Provide CLINIC a final report upon receiving full accreditation that explains how this in-depth training and full accreditation status impacted you professionally and your organization’s capacity to serve your local immigrant communities. Alternatively, if you do not obtain full accreditation status, your report should explain why you were unable to complete this requirement.

If you have additional questions about this training initiative, please contact training@cliniclegal.org. If you are a CLINIC Affiliate and have questions about applying for full accreditation, please submit your questions on the Affiliate Support Form.