Lincoln, Neb. — The Center for Immigrant and Refugee Advancement (CIRA) is launching a new externship program designed to provide hands-on experience in immigration law for future immigration attorneys in the state while also helping meet a growing community need for quality legal services.

As national immigration policy changes rapidly, communities throughout the state are experiencing a growing need for qualified legal experts to support them as they navigate a pivotal time in immigration law history. As an added complication, Nebraska, especially its rural areas, faces a sort of “legal desert,” in which qualified attorneys are increasingly hard to find.

“We can expand our services to support more neighbors in court while at the same time maintaining a pipeline of future immigration lawyers who will hopefully build their long-time careers in Nebraska,” said CIRA Law Clerk and UNL Immigration Clinic graduate Martha Sánchez-Hernández.

The CIRA Immigration Law Externship aims to address those needs, which intensified after the closure of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s School of Law Immigration Clinic closed last month after 28 years of operation. Due to financial restraints, the university was unable to replace the retiring professor who oversaw the clinic.

The paid program offers UNL law students the opportunity to earn academic credit while gaining practical experience and supporting pro bono legal representation.

“This externship maintains the opportunity for law students to learn about immigration law during a pivotal time,” said CIRA Associate Legal Director Anne Wurth. “We know how important the university’s Immigration Clinic was in teaching and creating new lawyers, so we want to continue this positive impact for our communities statewide.”