June is a month of celebration and reflection at VOLS. We wish everyone a happy Pride and honor the resilience and strength of the LGBTQIA+ community in the ongoing fight for equality and justice. On Juneteenth we celebrated the achievements of Black Americans and reflected on the unfinished work towards racial justice and equity. VOLS remains committed to this work by helping close the access to justice gap.
June also marks National Immigrant Heritage Month. VOLS proudly serves immigrant youth and their families. We honor the resilience and bravery of all immigrants who have crossed borders, carried cultural traditions, and helped shape and build New York City. Earlier this month, Cyrus Mehta joined a legal team meeting to talk about the rights of noncitizens and answer questions from our attorneys. A former VOLS Board member of 15 years, his contributions to the field of immigration law are numerous, as is our gratitude for his ongoing support.
Best,
Abja Midha | She/Her
Executive Director, Volunteers of Legal Service
We are Hiring!
Apply today and join our team!
- Staff Attorney, Benefits Law Project
- Director, Microenterprise Project
- Director, Senior Law Project
- Data & Contracts Coordinator
Welcoming New Board Members
VOLS is pleased to welcome Claire James, Head of New York Private Equity, Freshfields, and Harlene Katzman, Chief Pro Bono Counsel, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, to our Board of Directors.
Get To Know Our Team
As part of the VOLS Spotlight Series, we spoke with Sofia Aslan, Immigrant Justice Corps Community Fellow for the VOLS Immigration Project. Sofia is completing her two-year fellowship with VOLS on July 1, and will be attending Yale Law School in the fall.
What does your role as the Immigrant Justice Corps Community Fellow involve?
I work with young clients on a wide range of affirmative immigration matters. In April 2024, I became a DOJ Accredited Representative. This means I can represent clients in their immigration matters before USCIS. I’ve attended naturalization interviews with clients and helped them with applications like Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) renewals, adjustment of status applications, and U-Visas. I also help to screen potential clients and provide them brief advice on what immigration benefits they may be eligible for.
Is there an experience and/or client that you found particularly memorable?
I will never forget the first time I represented a client at a naturalization interview. As his representative, I observed the interview and provided information, as necessary, to the USCIS officer. This was an incredible realization of the responsibility I carry as someone’s representative before USCIS. The interview was successful, and my client’s naturalization application was approved. Luckily, he was able to attend his oath ceremony that same day. I stayed with him as he was sworn in as a U.S. Citizen. I was so grateful to celebrate this milestone with him.
The VOLS Immigration Project helped this client apply for DACA initially in 2013 and with every DACA renewal since. We then assisted him with his permanent residency application and, later, his naturalization. This decade-long representation speaks to the VOLS Immigration Project’s commitment to supporting its clients as they navigate a complex and inaccessible immigration system. I am proud to have played a small role in this client’s impressive journey.
Tell us about yourself. What does your ideal weekend look like?
I am a Brooklyn girl born and raised and love to spend my weekend walking my dog Leo in Prospect Park. I love to bake and an ideal Sunday would involve baking a batch of cookies to bring to the VOLS office the next day. I also love spending time with my friends and family, and hosting elaborate dinner parties for them. When I’m not busy in the kitchen, I’ll probably be watching an embarrassing reality TV show.
Project Updates
VOLS Benefits Law Project (BLP) recently published two new guides for volunteer attorneys, including a 2025 SCRIE/DRIE Guide and an Unemployment Insurance (UI) Manual.
VOLS Immigration Project (IP) held a screening clinic for immigrant families through our partnership with Trinity Commons. VOLS IP also continues to hold weekly virtual briefings for our volunteer partners to discuss recent changes to immigration law and policy.
VOLS Incarcerated Mothers Law Project (IMLP) conducted a CLE on Criminal Defense/Family Law Training for pro bono attorneys and hosted a workshop focused on trauma-informed skills facilitated by Jill S. Levenson, PhD, LCSW. This month IMLP worked with volunteer attorneys from Fried Frank and Kirkland & Ellis to provide education, advocacy, and counsel at Bedford Hills Correctional Facility and held a clinic at Taconic Correctional Facility with volunteer attorneys from Davis Polk, Kirkland & Ellis and Manatt, Phelps & Phillips. Additionally, IMLP created a guide for parole advocacy which serves as a resource for parole packet creation and interview preparation for attorneys and volunteers.
VOLS Microenterprise Project (MEP) worked with pro bono and community partners to provide transactional legal services and educational programming to small business owners. Our team held an intellectual property clinic supported by attorneys from Cowan, Liebowitz & Latman, and the Association of Corporate Counsel, and a cybersecurity presentation alongside Debevoise & Plimpton, MetLife and Start Small Think Big. MEP also presented “Legal Essentials for Small Business” alongside the Chinatown Manpower Project and pro bono partner Davis Polk.
VOLS Senior Law Project (SLP) supported older adults with their life planning needs. This month SLP held legal clinics and educational programs for older adults with community partners at Independence Plaza and SAGE.
Photo: Chinatown Manpower Project.
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Join the VOLS Community
- If you are affiliated with a VOLS partner law firm or company and would like to volunteer, please contact your company’s pro bono counsel.
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