EOIR Announces EOIR University

EOIR, Aug. 19, 2024

"The Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) today announced it has opened a training facility in Los Angeles, which will serve EOIR stakeholders, as well as agency adjudicators and staff. EOIR recognizes the immense value of legal representation in immigration proceedings, both to the individuals who come before our courts and to the efficiency of our hearings. Today, as part of the Access EOIR Initiative to improve the public’s access to information and help respondents navigate the immigration court system, we are excited to announce EOIR University! EOIR University is a first-of-its-kind immigration training available at no cost to those interested in providing representation to individuals within our Nation’s immigration system. EOIR is uniquely positioned to provide this training as the agency overseeing both the immigration court system and the Department of Justice’s Recognition and Accreditation Program. This new resource will address barriers that may prevent individuals from seeking accreditation or spending pro bono hours on an immigration case. Completion of EOIR University’s curriculum will provide applicants for accreditation with proof of adequate training to streamline their application process and will provide attorneys with the knowledge they need to take cases on a pro bono basis. EOIR University will maintain a curriculum available to individuals who seek to improve their understanding of immigration law and practice and who are interested in representing someone before EOIR at no or low cost. On Sept. 24, 2024, EOIR University will launch with a live hybrid session of its Model Hearing Program, which provides substantive and practical training in immigration law. Following that session, EOIR will provide five days of training on the fundamentals of immigration law, procedure, and practice that meets the regulatory requirements for accreditation and provides attorneys with a foundation for accepting cases on a pro bono basis. Non-attorneys who complete that coursework will have the opportunity to indicate completion when applying for partial or full accreditation, streamlining the application process. After this first set of trainings, EOIR will continue to develop and provide programming, and interested individuals can check for upcoming and on-demand courses on EOIR’s website, where additional resources for reference and professional learning will be available."