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Office of Legal Access Programs

List of Pro Bono Legal Service Providers | Recognition & Accreditation Roster Reports

Self Help Materials


The Office of Legal Access Programs is part of EOIR's Office of Policy. Since April 2000, the Office of Legal Access Programs (OLAP) has worked to improve the efficiency of immigration court hearings by increasing access to information and raising the level of representation for individuals appearing before the immigration courts and Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA). OLAP programs and initiatives include the:

The Assistant Director, Office of Policy, works through OLAP to administer the Recognition & Accreditation (R&A) Program. The purpose of the R&A program is to authorize qualified non-attorneys to provide representation in immigration matters through approved organizations.

Individuals in removal proceedings are provided the List of Pro Bono Legal Service Providers (List). The List contains information on non-profit organizations, referral services, and attorneys who may be able to assist in providing pro bono (free) legal services in immigration proceedings. The Office of Policy maintains the List, oversees the application process, and monitors the providers’ adherence to the regulatory requirements.

The Office of Policy administers the legal orientation programs to provide detained adults (LOP) or the adult caregivers of children (LOPC) in immigration removal proceedings with information about the immigration court process and their obligations. Where available, these programs also facilitate access to pro bono representation.

The Immigration Court Helpdesks (ICH) educate non-detained respondents about the immigration court process, aiming to help them make more informed decisions about their cases. There are currently 24 courts, as well as a new Virtual ICH program that is available to respondents in 5 additional immigration courts.

The Office of Policy also provides written materials and technical assistance for Self-Help Legal Centers within immigration courts. These centers assist individuals in immigration removal proceedings to learn about the immigration court process and their responsibilities.

The Office of Policy administers the BIA Pro Bono Project to facilitate timely pro bono representation for select individuals with appeals before the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA), and oversees the National Qualified Representative Program (NQRP), a nationwide program to provide qualified representatives to certain unrepresented individuals whom the Department of Homeland Security's Immigration and Customs Enforcement detains and whom an immigration judge or the BIA have determined to be mentally incompetent to represent themselves in immigration removal proceedings.


For more information on EOIR's programs and initiatives, please send an email to:
PAO.EOIR@usdoj.gov

Updated October 13, 2023