A year into the Foundation’s grant program that provides funding for the immigration legal needs of Afghan evacuees across the state, Ohio nonprofits have exceeded expectations. The Foundation’s grantees have helped over 2,300 Afghans seeking safety and stability, a higher number than initially anticipated.
In partnership with the Ohio State Bar Association, the Foundation recently disbursed the second round of funding, $1.15 million, to bring the total awarded to $2.3 million over two years. The funds expand the capacity of Ohio civil legal aids and specialty legal service providers to serve Afghans, including establishing and supporting a statewide pro bono program led by Catholic Charities Diocese of Cleveland attorney Morgen Morrissette.
“The pro bono component of the grant program is crucial to our success,” said the Foundation’s Executive Director Angie Lloyd. “When attorneys volunteer their time and talent, we can work together to stabilize more Afghan families.”
Under Morrissette’s leadership, the pro bono program has kicked into high gear recently, placing volunteer attorneys with as many Afghan asylum cases as possible. Morrissette recruits attorneys in private practice with little to no experience in immigration law, providing training and support to prepare the pro bono attorneys to handle some of the simpler Afghan cases. In doing so, nonprofit attorneys at Ohio’s legal aids are more available to tackle extensive, complex cases.
“The hope is that by the end of this, we can spark more of an interest and have more people willing to do immigration law,” Morrissette said. “If attorneys from the private bar take two small cases a year, we could really make a difference in the legal landscape for clients and immigration attorneys.”
So far, Morrissette has trained around 90 volunteer attorneys, who have gone on to serve 190 Afghans.
“I’m very fortunate that people are excited about doing these cases,” she said. “It’s a great way to get into a new area of law that is in demand.”
As a former staff attorney at Community Refugee and Immigration Services, Morrissette knows how complex immigration law can be. That’s why she’s committed to supporting volunteer attorneys in whatever capacity they may need.
“[Pro bono attorneys] have the opportunity to learn a new area of law that is pretty difficult to get into because it is so different from other areas of law,” she said. “If you volunteer, we will mentor and guide you step by step.”
Attorneys interested in volunteering for the Afghan effort should contact Morgen Morrissette, statewide immigration pro bono coordinator.