SPECIAL SESSION! FREE 1.0 MCLE (ethics)
“Balancing Ethics, Competence, and Care in Immigration Law Practice”
On Tuesday June 24th, we’re excited to collaborate with VAAP pro bono attorney Lila Shapero and Vermont Bar Counsel Mike Kennedy on a special case rounds session that bridges core legal ethics with the unique challenges of immigration legal practice. We envision starting with Mike’s signature refresher on the Vermont Rules of Professional Conduct—particularly competence, confidentiality, communication, and conflicts—before transitioning into real-world hypotheticals drawn from our casework. These may include dilemmas such as disclosures on immigration forms (e.g., when a client has violated criminal laws without arrest), third-party consults, encrypted and app-based communication, and intra-family conflicts where representation intersects with domestic violence or diverging interests. We hope to explore the We also hope to explore risk mitigation strategies around the unauthorized practice of law and the ethical boundaries of subcontracted legal support, particularly relevant as VAAP expands VBF-funded partnerships with community-rooted providers like MJ and CASP. In addition, we’d welcome dialogue about opportunities for accountability in Vermont when opposing counsel—whether in civil enforcement or criminal prosecution—appear to act in bad faith or violate ethical rules.
We are also increasingly concerned about rising threats to immigration advocates, including recent political rhetoric suggesting prosecution or license revocation for attorneys who educate immigrants about their constitutional and federal legal rights; our novice pro bono volunteers already find the risk of incompetence to clients and themselves chilling. We’d value time to reflect on how afraid we should be, and what protective or strategic steps may be warranted.
Attendees, including attorneys, DOJ-accredited reps, legal fellows, and interns, will come prepared with “live” ethics questions for Mike to respond to in his signature bar counsel style. If time permits, we’d also be glad to include a segment on wellness and sustainability in legal practice—especially as an ethical imperative for those working in high-trauma environments.
All are welcome. General information only, not legal advice. Intros on arrival and no personally identifying information for clients, please. Come when you can, stay as long as you can, and no RSVP needed! As the National Lawyers Guild National Immigration Project (NIPNLG) remind us, building and engaging with communities of practice is the #1 way to ensure ethical, high-quality advocacy and to protect clients during this time. Thank you for helping us make immigration legal work more accessible, collaborative, and resilient! A summary of the discussion without attribution will be published on our blog.
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Meeting ID: 299 027 927 804
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