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Pro Bono

Since the Firm’s founding in 1984, Barack Ferrazzano has encouraged its members to contribute to pro bono legal efforts. Our Pro Bono Committee defines goals for the program and identifies pro bono opportunities for professionals and staff.

The Firm is affiliated with several pro bono non-profit organizations, including the Public Interest Law Initiative (one of our partners is a member of the Board of Directors). Barack Ferrazzano also is a charter member of The Chicago Bar Foundation Law Firm Leadership Circle, which is dedicated to supporting pro bono legal assistance to those in need.

The Firm encourages participation by giving attorneys and paralegals up to 100 hours per year of billable hour credit for work on a wide variety of pro bono matters, including:

Guardianship of Children

The Firm handles guardian ad litem cases through Chicago Volunteer Legal Services in which attorneys are assigned to help determine and advocate for the best interest of the minor child in contested guardianship cases. After interviewing the involved parties, including the child, and gathering relevant information about the situation, the Firm prepares a report of findings to be presented to a probate court. Barack Ferrazzano lawyers also appear in court on the child’s behalf.

Immigration Cases

Through the National Immigrant Justice Center, we represent those who seek asylum in the United States as they flee persecution and terrible circumstances in their home country, but who have no means and little understanding of the necessary process, with a special focus on matters involving minors. We also consult with the NIJC regarding immigrant detention policies.

Litigation

The Firm represents pro bono clients through litigation in other forums as well. We handle appellate cases before the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals. In addition, a Barack Ferrazzano bankruptcy partner collaborated with a Bankruptcy Court judge to create a pro bono program to represent debtors who are unable to afford counsel.

Veterans’ Benefit Claims

Our Firm works closely with the Veterans’ Rights Project of the Legal Assistance Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago, representing veterans in appeals of denials of benefits by the Veterans Administration. Our Firm has established a fund at the LAF to pay for medical examinations for veterans who need an outside medical opinion regarding the nature and extent of their injury and its consequences.

Committee Members

Recent Experience

2019 In Review: A Year of Significant Pro Bono Achievement
Barack Ferrazzano celebrated another successful year of pro bono partnership with the National Immigrant Justice Center (NIJC), which provides pro bono immigration-related legal services and ensures access to justice for vulnerable communities. Together with NIJC, the Firm earned victories on behalf of over a dozen clients providing them urgently-needed free legal representation.

Highlights from 2019 include:
- DACA Clinic Secures Renewal Approvals for DREAMers
  During the Firm’s second annual onsite clinic, Barack Ferrazzano attorneys and paralegals obtained renewed legal status for nearly a dozen Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) applicants ("DREAMers"). Thanks to their dedication and efforts, the clients were able to renew their temporary protected status, remain eligible to renew their work authorization, and further their educational and professional careers.
- Asylum Victories
  Barack Ferrazzano trial teams obtained multiple victories for detained asylum seekers from around the world.
- Pro Bono Asylum Representation Advocacy
  Following a string of victories on behalf of detained asylum seekers, Barack Ferrazzano Litigation Group partner Andrew E. Nieland offered his insights to attorneys currently involved or interested in representing individuals in immigration court as a panelist in NIJC’s “Representing Detained Asylum Seekers: A Practical Approach for Pro Bono”
- Pro Bono Service Recognition
  Litigation associate Michael Educate was honored as an NIJC “Rising Star.” This award recognizes individuals dedicated to ensuring access to justice, and who generously provide high quality pro bono services to clients with complex immigration cases.
- #GivingTuesday Donations Matched to Protect Asylum Seekers
  For the third year in a row, Barack Ferrazzano’s matching of donations to NIJC on #GivingTuesday allowed NIJC to provide increased legal representation to and facilitate family reunification for dozens of asylum seekers.
Giving Tuesday 2019: Barack Ferrazzano Matches NIJC In Support Of Asylum Seekers
Barack Ferrazzano was proud to  partner with the National Immigrant Justice Center (NIJC) for the 3^rd consecutive year during its #GivingTuesday campaign. As part of NIJC’s #GivingTuesday campaign, the Firm matched donations made to NIJC, which NIJC puts towards translations, legal consultations for separated families, filing habeas petitions to free asylum seekers from jail, and advocating on behalf of asylum seekers in court. As a result of the funds gathered by NIJC and matched by the Firm on #GivingTuesday, NIJC was able to provide free legal representation for more than 20 asylum seekers.
Representing Detained Asylum-Seekers: A Practical Approach for Pro Bono Attorneys
Join Barack Ferrazzano Litigation Group partner Andrew E. Nieland at the National Immigrant Justice Center (NIJC) pro bono attorney training session titled, “Representing Detained Asylum Seekers: A Practical Approach for Pro Bono” The NIJC and experienced pro bono partners collaborate to present this free session on law and strategy for successfully representing detained asylum seekers in Illinois, Wisconsin, and Indiana.

Andrew will serve as a panelist, drawing from his experience on asylum cases. Andrew’s teams have secured relief for 3 detained asylum seekers in the last 10 months, representing asylum seekers fleeing political persecution, domestic violence, and drug cartel retaliation in Immigration Court and before the Board of Immigration Appeals and the Seventh Circuit. To learn more about Barack Ferrazzano’s pro bono efforts and victories, visit: https://www.bfkn.com/newsroom-news-415

Eligible for CLE credit, this session welcomes attorneys with current cases and those who are interested in representing individuals before immigration court. This session will build on a previous NIJC webinar titled, “Representing Detained and Non-Detained Asylum Seekers – Intro to Asylum,” held in July 2018.

Don’t miss this great opportunity presented by NIJC to learn more about how you can assist those in need of pro bono representation in an increasingly difficult climate.

To view the introductory NIJC webinar, visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YM7eIBL1_Vk&feature=youtu.be
Barack Ferrazzano Hosts DACA Renewal Clinic
Barack Ferrazzano and the National Immigrant Justice Center (NIJC) collaborated for the second year in a row to provide pro bono legal services to Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) applicants ("DREAMers") at a renewal clinic hosted by the Firm. Through the Firm’s clinics, Barack Ferrazzano attorneys and paralegals have served dozens of DREAMers to help them renew DACA status, allowing them to remain legally in the United States, renew their work authorization, and pursue their education and professional careers.
NIJC Honors Michael Educate as a 2019 Rising Star
Barack Ferrazzano is pleased to congratulate Michael Educate as a recipient of the National Immigrant Justice Center's (NIJC) “2019 Rising Stars Award,” which recognizes individuals who are dedicated to ensuring access to justice and who generously provide high quality pro bono services to clients with complex immigration cases. Michael received the Rising Stars Award in recognition of his work winning a grant of asylum on behalf of a 20-year old Jehovah’s Witness who fled Cuba after suffering religious and political persecution. Upon arrival to the United States, Michael’s client was immediately placed in detention, where he remained until Michael was able to secure his release. As a result of this win, Michael’s client was able to rejoin his family and start a new life for himself.

Michael joined Barack Ferrazzano as an associate in the Firm's Litigation Group in 2017. Michael is experienced in all aspects of civil litigation in both state and federal court and administrative proceedings across the country, in a wide range of industries. He has been an avid contributor of pro bono legal services throughout his career, representing individuals in taxation, special education, family law, and asylum cases.

The honor was presented during the 20^th Annual NIJC Human Rights Awards luncheon on Tuesday, June 4, 2019, at the Chicago Marriott Downtown Magnificent Mile. The annual luncheon honored human rights champions such as Michael who have made outstanding achievements to promote, protect, and advance human rights throughout the world. The luncheon also celebrated the charitable contributions of business, philanthropic, and community leaders that ensure immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers can continue to realize their basic human rights through NIJC’s services.
2018: A Year of Outstanding Pro Bono Victories
As we enter 2019, Barack Ferrazzano celebrates another successful year of pro bono partnership with the National Immigrant Justice Center (NIJC). Together, the Firm and NIJC represented over a dozen clients in desperate need of legal services, providing free representation that may not be otherwise available. The Firm looks forward to another great year of partnership with NIJC in 2019.
Highlights from 2018 include:
- DACA Clinic Results in Renewal Approvals of DREAMers
  Barack Ferrazzano attorneys and paralegals volunteered onsite to represent nearly a dozen DREAMers who were seeking to renew their DACA status. Thanks to their work, those young immigrants are eligible to renew their work authorization and further their educations.
- Asylum Victories
  Barack Ferrazzano trial teams won asylum for multiple detained asylum seekers, securing their legal status and their release from immigration jail, including for:
- Matching Donations to Reunite Families on #GivingTuesday
  Barack Ferrazzano matched donations to NIJC for #GivingTuesday, helping NIJC raise over $50,000 in one day to be used to reunite families and help newly arriving families access their rights.
Barack Ferrazzano & NIJC Partner for DACA Renewal Clinic
Barack Ferrazzano and the National Immigrant Justice Center (NIJC) worked together to protect and defend human rights on behalf of DREAMers at a DACA renewal clinic hosted by the Firm. Over a dozen Barack Ferrazzano attorneys and paralegals, trained by NIJC, worked to complete and file applications to renew DACA. Through this program, 10 young immigrants were able to successfully renew their DACA status, meaning they can renew their work authorization and continue their education.
Donating to Reunite Families
Barack Ferrazzano was proud to support pro bono partner the National Immigrant Justice Center (NIJC) during its #GivingTuesday campaign to help keep families and communities together. #GivingTuesday, traditionally celebrated on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving, is a way to use social media as a tool of collaboration towards charitable goals. The Firm matched donations to NIJC, contributing to NIJC exceeding its fundraising goal, raising a total of $58,000 to reunite families and help newly arriving families begin their lives together in the United States. #GivingTuesday funds were used by NIJC for translations, legal consultations for separated families, filing habeas petitions to free immigrants from jail and defending immigrants in court.
Asylum Granted for Zimbabwean Political Activist
Barack Ferrazzano and the National Immigrant Justice Center (NIJC) won asylum for a Zimbabwean political activist who was tortured for his peaceful opposition to Zimbabwe's ruling party, marking their third partnership and third victory for a detained asylum seeker this winter.

Our client campaigned peacefully for the Movement for Democratic Change, an opposition party in Zimbabwe. Due to his opposition to the authoritarian policies of the ruling party, agents of the Zimbabwe government tortured, beat and threatened him on numerous occasions. He fled to the United States in September 2018 and was immediately jailed in McHenry County, Illinois while awaiting trial.

With the help of NIJC and the Firm’s attorneys our client won asylum and reunited with his wife and newborn child, who was born while he was detained in Illinois. Given only a few weeks to prepare for trial, Barack Ferrazzano's team tracked down corroborating witnesses in Zimbabwe and South Africa, as well as testimony from an expert on human rights abuses in Zimbabwe and a forensic medical examiner. The presiding judge commended their presentation as one of the most thorough he had ever seen.

The pro bono team consisted of partners Andrew E. Nieland and Andrea L. Sill, associate Michael J. B. Pitt, paralegals Lisette Ochoa and Diane Poulos and legal assistant Sarah Bendelow.

View below to see our client with our pro bono team.
Cuban Detainee Gains Political Asylum:
Barack Ferrazzano gained a great result for our client, a 20 year old Jehovah’s Witness who fled Cuba due to religious and political persecution.

Our client journeyed for nearly three months through Latin America to escape being arrested, detained and beaten in his home country. When he arrived to the U.S., he was detained at a border detention center and ultimately jailed in McHenry County, Illinois while he awaited his asylum hearing. Detention made preparing this case a difficult challenge due to the limited ability to meet or communicate with our client. However, he was granted asylum without opposition by the ICE attorney based on the quality and detail of the Firm’s written submission, which was specifically complimented by the presiding judge.

The pro bono team was led by Matthew F. Singer and Edward F. Malone, associate Michael Educate, and paralegal Lisette Ochoa and legal assistant Aurora Garcia.

View below to see our client and pro bono team.
Asylum Victory for Venezuelan Student Activist:
In May 2018, our client, a Venezuelan pre-law student, fled to the U.S. after being targeted and attacked by the government as a result of her leadership in the student protest movement. She endured numerous physical attacks and was forced into hiding, and ultimately fled to the United States. Upon arrival in the U.S., she was immediately detained in immigration jail for five months while she awaited trial.

Barack Ferrazzano worked closely with the National Immigrant Justice Center (NIJC), filing an asylum application with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) on our client's behalf. Her detention throughout the trial made case preparation especially difficult since our team was unable to meet in person and had limited communication. Our team worked tirelessly, earning commendation from the presiding Judge on multiple occasions, based on remarkable efforts that went above and beyond to obtain asylum.

Following our client's eloquent testimony she was released from immigration jail and granted asylum without opposition by the ICE attorney on October 18, 2018.
Congratulations to our client and her family. Our pro bono trial team was led by partners Maile Hitomi Solís, John M. Geiringer, paralegal Jessica M. Swisher, and legal assistant Aurora Garcia.

View below to see our client (center, in Bears hat) and pro bono team, along with Heartland Alliance International, Program Development Officer Camila Garzon-Ruiz.
Asylum Obtained For Central American Refugee:
In 2016, a young woman from Central America entered the United States as a minor with her sisters after escaping the powerful Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) international criminal gang. MS-13 gang members repeatedly targeted the women, including physical and life-threatening attacks. Working closely with the National Immigrant Justice Center (NIJC), Barack Ferrazzano's legal team filed our client’s asylum application with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), arguing that she has a reasonable fear of persecution if forced to return to Central America, and then represented her in her interview in front of the Asylum Office. On October 12, our client was granted asylum.

As a result, she is able to remain in the United States, has obtained employment authorization in order to support herself and will be eligible to apply for permanent residence in one year. The NIJC and Barack Ferrazzano continue to work on a pro bono basis to assist our client's family members with their asylum cases.

The Barack Ferrazzano pro bono team for this asylum case consisted of Ed Malone, Alice Lin, Lisette Ochoa (paralegal), Eric Maier (summer associate) and several support staff throughout the Firm. These cases are always challenging and are increasingly difficult in the current climate, so both we and our clients are extremely grateful for the dedication, skill and commitment shown by this team — and the Firm as a whole — in providing these pro bono services.
Iranian Political Asylum:
On January 31, 2012, Barack Ferrazzano attorneys succeeded in petitioning the U.S. Department of Justice Immigration Court to grant political asylum to an Iranian national. The asylum seeker fled his native country of Iran after being targeted by the government for participating in the historic protests that followed the election of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in 2009. This appears to be one of the first U.S. asylum cases connected with the widely reported 2009 election protests in Iran.

Barack Ferrazzano took on the case in August 2010. The team, led by associate Brandon Prosansky, donated hundreds of hours of their time to ensure our client was not returned to Iran, where he faced possible arrest, torture or even death. Given the lack of U.S. case law involving the 2009 election protests, the litigation team’s case was built on evidence and expert testimony regarding the Iranian government’s deplorable treatment of 2009 election protesters, as well as our client's credible testimony about his participation in protests, the government’s surveillance of him, and his escape from Iran.

After the court announced its ruling, the U.S. government stated that it would not appeal, and the judge expressly thanked the Firm for taking the case. Our client wants to contribute positively to this country, and hopes to apply for U.S. citizenship when he becomes eligible.
The Firm is extremely proud of the team that worked on the case, including attorneys Brandon Prosansky, Vito Solitro, Ed Malone, Shermin Kruse, and Larah Tannenbaum, as well as the support team of Ranni Matar, Lisa Shupryt, James Tucker, and Mary Mobley.

The Firm is also very appreciative of the volunteer services of expert witness Dr. Elise Auerbach and translator Zahra Malek.