IFAP was founded in 1996 as a partnership between NWIRP and the University of Washington School of Law. The organization trains and matches law students with pro bono attorneys and provides representation to immigrant survivors of domestic violence who are eligible to obtain lawful immigration status in the U.S. under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). IFAP recently expanded its services to include Special Immigrant Juvenile Status petitions, representing immigrant minors who have been abused, abandoned, or neglected. IFAP has enabled many immigrant survivors of domestic violence and their children to leave abusive relationships and begin lives free of violence, while providing law students with an opportunity to gain training and experience in immigration law, domestic violence advocacy, and client counseling.

Attorneys who commit to take one IFAP case during the 2005-06 school year can attend the CLE for the cost of materials, $25. At the close of the event, attorneys that have agreed to take a case immediately will be paired with two law students and assigned a case by NWIRP.

Diana Moller, Northwest Immigrant Rights Project, supervises the Immigrant Child Advocacy Project and the Family Services Unit of the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project. She works with victims of human trafficking and immigrant juveniles who have been abused, abandoned and neglected. Ms. Moller also provides representation in family-based visa matters, NACARA and removal proceedings. Ms. Moller previously worked in private practice, practicing employment, labor and immigration law. From 1996-2000, she was an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Washington, representing the University of Washington, UW Medical Center and Harborview Medical Center. She has volunteered as a NWIRP pro bono attorney in the past. Ms. Moller received her J.D. from the University of Puget Sound (now Seattle University) School of Law. She received her LL.M. from the University of Washington in International Law of Sustainable Development. In 2000, she spent 6 months researching sustainable development issues in Mexico and Central America as a Bonderman Fellow.

Karen Rosenberg is currently a Doctoral Candidate in Women Studies at the University of Washington. She holds a B.A. from Swarthmore College and a M.A. from the University of Washington. Ms. Rosenberg worked as a legal advocate at New Beginnings, a Seattle-based domestic violence agency, from 1996-2002. In this capacity she worked extensively with immigrant survivors of violence. She frequently lectures on issues relating to domestic violence and has designed and taught classes on women and the law at the University of Washington.

Neha Chandola has seven years of experience in the area of immigration law. She is currently the Legal Director of the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project in Seattle, Washington. Prior to joining NWIRP, Ms. Chandola was in solo practice in Tucson, Arizona, focusing on immigration cases. Before that, she worked with the Tucson Ecumenical Council for Legal Assistance (TECLA), a project that, like NWIRP, had its origins assisting Salvadorans and Guatemalans fleeing their countries' wars in the 1980's. Ms. Chandola has served as the secretary of the Board of the Asylum Program of Southern Arizona. In addition, in 2001, she received an Award for Outstanding Dedication to Battered Immigrant Women by the Southeastern Arizona Behavior Health Service.

Signe Dortch is an attorney at Gibbs Houston Pauw where she practices immigration law. Previously, she worked as a staff attorney at the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project where she specialized in areas of immigration law directly impacting immigrant survivors of domestic violence. Signe received her Juris Doctor in 1999 from the University of Washington School of Law and her Bachelor of Arts in 1995 from Willamette University. She is admitted to practice in Washington State. Signe is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association and the National Lawyers Guild.

Refunds are available up to five days prior to the program. In lieu of a refund, we encourage participants to send a substitute. Please notify the UW CLE of any requests for refunds or substitutions. All cancellations are subject to a $30 handling charge.