volunteer with vaap

We are looking for volunteer lawyers and legal workers willing to get trained to offer asylum seekers with free immigration legal assistance in a variety of settings including attorney-for-the-day clinics, limited scope assistance, and full-scope representation. For our initial years, we aim to orient, train, and support pro bono attorneys to provided limited-scope and full representation to asylum seekers in Vermont. Over time, we aim to build a connection between advocates who have experience and knowledge of the asylum system to pass it on to newcomers who are interested in learning and offering support to those who are seeking safety in the U.S.

Language access is an essential element of our legal work and also a severely under-funded mandate. The prohibitive cost of legal interpretation and translation support is the single most limiting factor on our ability to provide services to everyone who requests it. For example, one I-589 asylum application filing clinic serving 10 primary applicants over 4-5 hours costs VAAP upwards of $4,000 in telephonic interpreter fees. If you have multilingual language skills and are willing to get trained to provide virtual interpreter services at one or more asylum legal help clinic, contact us today to express your no-obligation interest and learn more. 

We are also looking for volunteer lawyers and legal workers who are willing to attend local community events to hear communities’ concerns, share reliable information with constituents, and connect people to resources like those provided by VAAP. VAAP is hearing from many community groups hoping to speak with an immigration lawyer to help make sense of the highly speculative and often incorrect immigration-related information circulating online and within communities. VAAP mentors will give volunteers all of the regional and national talking points we can access, so volunteers can help us stop the deliberate spread of misinformation and fearmongering in our communities!

We are always looking for multilingual legal and paralegalinterns, and advertise our needs here.

For individuals who wish to volunteer time, energy, or resources in ways not already listed on this page, please check out our community based organizational partners who offer case management and other “welcoming work” supports.

Concerted collaboration across disciplines is what makes welcoming work successful. VAAP’s goal is to see noncitizens only only arrive but also THRIVE in our state long term!