Volunteer to defend citizens facing denaturalization

The Clearinghouse is building a network of lawyers willing to represent naturalized U.S. citizens in civil denaturalization cases on a pro bono (no charge for their legal services) basis. You must have legal malpractice insurance to volunteer to serve as counsel of record in a case referred by the Clearinghouse; the Clearinghouse does not provide legal malpractice insurance.

Three ways to volunteer

We welcome three kinds of volunteers:

• Experienced counsel. Lawyers who have defended civil denaturalization cases (cases the government brings in federal court to revoke citizenship).
• Lawyers who have been trained or are willing to be trained. Lawyers who have substantial federal litigation experience and have either attended a Denaturalization Defense training offered by the Immigrant Legal Resource Center, or are willing to attend such a training.
• Lawyers willing to assist experienced or trained lawyers. Lawyers who do not have denaturalization defense experience or substantial federal civil litigation experience, but want to volunteer to assist such lawyers in representing defendants in civil denaturalization cases.

What pro bono representation through the Clearinghouse involves

• Representing a matched citizen in a civil denaturalization proceeding in federal court.
• For those who need it, training and/or mentorship support may be available to help you take on a matter.
• Any representation is arranged directly between you and the citizen under your own engagement agreement. The Clearinghouse is not a party to that relationship and does not supervise the representation.

Costs and expenses

Pro bono here means you are not charging the client for your legal services. You may ask the client to pay the litigation expenses of the case (for example, court filing fees, fees for serving documents, deposition transcripts, expert witness fees, travel, or similar out-of-pocket costs). The Clearinghouse is seeking foundation and donor funding to help defray litigation costs and expenses, but cannot guarantee it. The specific terms would be set in your engagement agreement with the client.

What we can and cannot promise

The Clearinghouse will attempt to match volunteers with citizens who need help, but it does not guarantee that any particular lawyer will be referred a case, or that a match will be found. Signing up does not obligate you to accept any matter, and it does not obligate the Clearinghouse to send you one.