By Katie Atencio
East Los Angeles College’s law discipline held an Immigration Legal Aid workshop Thursday at the auditorium foyer.
This event was held by East Los Angeles College -LAW Business Administration Department Law Discipline.
There were six attorneys and more than 30 students, who gave legal advice to the client’s situation, regarding either family or immigration law.
Jane Oak and Michelle Choi, were there to represent Jane Oak and Associates, P. C. regarding immigration law.
Oak has practiced immigration law for 20 years, while Michelle Choi has been practiced as anassociate for ve and a half years.
The firm offers volunteer opportunities, but limited due to their maximum capacity. Per day, Jane Oak & Associates, P. C. has eight clients.
They help victims of crimes,traf cking and domestic violence.Oak also said fraud marriages occur one percent of the time and the people involved are “banned, deported for fraud and unforgiven by the United States.”
A common question that is asked by DACA recipients is, “What do I do after I graduate to stay in the U. S.?” In that case, the college graduate would have to apply for the H-1B, a special visa, which is an employment based green card for a temporary amount of time.
Although it is temporary,
the process of completing the application allows the college graduate to apply for permanent residence status.
“Immigration law is the most compassionate law because we change so many lives in such a positive way,” Oak said. Oak considered each case to have “unique stories, unique people.”
The rm charges $750 for theirfees, which generally covers everything.
Attorney Ruben Martinez Jr.was there to represent Law Of ceof Ruben Martinez Jr. regarding immigration and nationality law, who also helps out on campus.
When it came to immigrationlaw rms, such as Law Of ces ofJane Oak & Associates, they tend to be broad and have many facets of immigration.
Oak said these were the type of cases to change someone’s life and future when it comes to their stance of being a legal citizen in the United States.
Another family law representative, Javier Lepe, was there coming from Javier Lepe Attorney at Law/ Abogado, who helps out on campus like Ruben Martinez Jr.
Becky Miller and Nalleli Sandoval were there to represent Levitt & Quinn Family Law Center,a nonpro t rm. Miller has been an attorney for the rm for six years.Her intentions were to help those that were unable to get representeddue to nances.
The firm has four full-time attorneys, they provide limited scope services, which are step-by- step.
Throughout this process, there is
$45 intake fee charge, if Levitt &Quinn were to take on the client’s case, and the rest was depend on their income.
Walk-in services were said to be provided on Wednesdays and Fridays, but the rest of the days would have to be by appointment.
First-year student Rosario Morales was a client and said that the legal advice was very good information and had given her a sense of relief as well as a good choice.
Many other students relate to Morales’ thoughts after seeking advice from the attorneys.
There were six tables and there were more students than attorneys. Only three of the six attorneys practiced immigration law.
Students came to the event, filled out a confidentiality form and recieved legal advice from attorneys.
A volunteer stated that the evaluation was just a survey on if the client was satisfied with the service provided, if this were to
be recommended, if any questions were answered and if this was useful to ELAC students and the community, and what the client’s race and gender were for statistics.
For example, the Levitt & Quinn table had the attorney and client discuss legal stances and possible outcomes of the situations as in what is the situation in general.
If an attorney does take on a client’s case, it would not involve ELAC nor the district, just the attorney and client.
ELAC-LAW professors Filemon Samson and Courtney Powers had made an appearance at this event, as well as, some of their students. It was expected that 36 students (clients) would show up and more
unexpected would come. Third-year student/volunteer for
the event, Catalina Albino, is taking a law course with professor Filemon Samson, and said that this event was a “great idea and positive for the community.”
Volunteers like Albino are most likely to be from LAW-ELAC classes.