About the Immigrant Families Advocacy Project

Founded in 1996 as a partnership between Northwest Immigrant Rights Project (NWIRP) and the University of Washington School of Law, the Immigrant Families Advocacy Project (IFAP) trains and matches law students with pro bono attorneys and immigrant survivors of domestic violence.  IFAP volunteers assist immigrants who are eligible to self-petition under the Violence Against Women Act or petition for other types of relief as victims of criminal domestic violence (U-visas) or special immigrant juvenile status. 

IFAP has enabled many immigrant women and children to leave abusive families without the threat of deportation and begin the process of creating a life free of violence. Additionally, it has provided law students – including those in their first year – with the chance to gain training and experience in immigration law, domestic violence advocacy, and client counseling. Law students involved with IFAP value the opportunity to work on a real case with attorney supervision.

IFAP continues to be a cooperative effort between NWIRP and the UW Law School. After completing applications and attending mandatory training sessions, law students work in pairs with pro bono attorneys on cases that have been screened by NWIRP.

NWIRP provides the crucial support necessary for IFAP to function. Not only do the staff members of NWIRP’s Domestic Violence Unit play an instrumental role in organizing, conducting, and monitoring the mandatory law student trainings, they serve as resources for students and pro bono attorneys representing clients throughout the petitioning process.

A volunteer Steering Committee comprised of UW law students coordinates IFAP events, with the supervision of Law School Professor Anita Ramasastry.

During the fall of each year, IFAP conducts trainings for law students. In order to be matched with clients, law students must have attended all of the trainings.

Questions about IFAP may be addressed to any of the Steering Committee members or by calling or emailing our office at the UW School of Law: (206) 543-7501 or uwifap@yahoo.com.