November 21, 2011

Ford Motor Company, Cooley Law School, Form Pro Bono Partnership

On Friday, November 4, 2011, Ford Motor Company and Cooley Law School launched a new pro bono partnership. Through this partnership, Ford attorneys will utilize the Spanish language skills of Cooley students, while also mentoring students on the fundamentals of Immigration Law, as they represent qualifying Michigan immigrants seeking legal status on the basis of "U visa"protection.

Cooley Law School staff, students, and faculty at the Ford pro bono immigration training

In October 2000, Congress passed the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Prevention Act, which created the U visa status. U visa protects victims of serious crime who are courageous enough to come forward, report the crime and assist in its investigation and prosecution. U visa protection extends to victims of domestic abuse and sexual assault. The U visa allows a non-citizen and certain qualifying family members to live and work in the United States for up to four years, with extensions. After three years under the U visa status, the immigrant may apply for lawful permanent residence. After five years as a lawful permanent resident, the immigrants can then apply for U.S. citizenship.

Faculty support for this program will be provided by Professor Monica Navarro, who was instrumental in implementing this program. Ford attorney Jane Ragan will coordinate the cases through the Michigan Immigrants Rights Center. Staff support and coordination will be provided by Dionnie Wynter, Assistant Director, and the Center for Ethics, Service, and Professionalism at Cooley’s Auburn Hills campus.

Students of the Auburn Hills Hispanic Latino Law Society will provide critical language skills.

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About Thomas M. Cooley Law School:
Thomas M. Cooley Law School is the largest law school in the nation. Founded in 1972, the private, non-profit law school operates its Juris Doctor program, Joint Degree programs, and Master of Laws programs across Michigan in Lansing, Auburn Hills, Grand Rapids and Ann Arbor. Cooley recently announced a new Tampa Bay, Florida-area campus, with courses beginning in May 2012. Cooley has more than 15,000 graduates across the nation and worldwide and offers enrollment three times a year in January, May and September. Cooley is an independent law school, accredited by the American Bar Association and the Higher Learning Commission. Additional information can be found at cooley.edu.