About the Federal Impact Litigation Clinic (FIL)

The Federal Impact Litigation Clinic (FIL) litigates civil cases in federal court at the intersection of immigration, civil rights, and administrative law. FIL represents both individual immigrants and immigration organizations.

In this clinic, students will work closely with clients to build their factual and legal case. Students will draft pleadings, including complaints, motions, opposition briefs, and motions for summary judgment. In some cases, they may engage in discovery, negotiations with federal government lawyers, and argue in hearings and status conferences before federal judges.  

The FIL handles the following types of cases:

• Habeas corpus petitions on behalf of detained immigrants;  
• Mandamus lawsuits against immigration agencies for delays in processing immigration applications and petitions;
• Administrative Procedure Act lawsuits when agencies deny federal benefits in violation of law or without an adequate record;
• Freedom of Information Act lawsuits against agencies that fail to provide requested documents.  

The Federal Impact Litigation Clinic is directed by Professor Kate Melloy Goettel.

Prospective clients

The Federal Impact Litigation Clinic represents individual non-citizens and immigration organizations. FIL represents:

• Non-citizens who have been denied an immigration benefit and seek to file a lawsuit in federal court;
• Non-citizens with long-delayed applications and petitions before U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and other immigration agencies;  
• Detained non-citizens in habeas corpus proceedings to help them secure release from detention; and
• Immigration organizations in Freedom of Information Act lawsuits, impact litigation cases, and related non-litigation advocacy.

This clinic does not represent clients in need of immigration benefits, and does not practice before federal immigration agencies, including U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the immigration courts, and the U.S. State Department. If you are in need of an immigration benefit or are in removal proceedings, please see the Immigration Law Clinic.