Volunteer
Volunteer support is a vital resource for the Tahirih Justice Center. Because of the legal nature of our core services, issues of confidentiality, and the traumatic condition of many of our clients, we carefully define volunteer tasks. Below are the many ways that you can support our work as a volunteer:
Professional Volunteer Opportunities
Would you like to volunteer your professional services?
We can particularly utilize the help of attorneys, medical providers, lobbyists, and public relations specialists, among others. If you would like to become involved, please learn more about our professional networks:
Attorneys | Medical Providers | Policy Advocates
Pro Bono Attorney Network
Why Join Tahirih’s Pro Bono Attorney Network?
- Change the life of a woman or girl
- Gain professional experience in cutting-edge immigration law and benefit from Tahirih’s expertise in the field
- Acquire hands-on experience in court representation
- Become part of a community of advocates and share ideas on how to enhance the field
Contact Us to Become Involved
Represent a Client
Are you an attorney looking for a pro bono representation opportunity that is enriching and professionally stimulating?
In 2002, Tahirih launched and has grown a network of professional attorneys who donate their time and expertise to provide representation in immigration law to women and girls fleeing violence. Tahirih’s Pro Bono Attorney Network includes nearly 900 attorneys from over 100 reputable law firms.
These donated professional services are a vital resource for Tahirih and allow us to maximize the number of women and girls to whom we can provide life-saving assistance. In fact, outside attorneys, co-counseled by Tahirih staff attorneys, represent over 75% of incoming cases.
We know your time is precious and we promise that we will respect it and work to ensure that your volunteer experience is a rewarding one. To ease the representation process, we have a staff person solely dedicated to the pro bono network and case placement. In addition, we provide the necessary training in immigration law and partner you with a Tahirih staff attorney to co-counsel the case and to support your representation. Finally, we provide in-house social and medical service referrals to ensure that client needs are met holistically and you can spend your time on the legal aspects of a case.
 |
2004 |
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ACTIVE CASES | 57 | 104 | 213 | 260 |
| ACTIVE LEGAL MATTERS | 114 | 215 | 461 | 604 |
Tahirih’s ability to leverage donated services was recognized as a management best-practice when Tahirih won the 2007 Washington Post Award for Excellence in Nonprofit Management and when Tahirih was recognized in the Washingtonian magazine as an outstanding local charity. We hope you will join our network of talented and dedicated attorneys to protect the lives of women and girls in need.
More Information:
Learn what our pro bono attorneys have to say
If you have questions about our Pro Bono Attorney Network, or in providing pro bono help on family law cases, please email legal@tahirih.org.
MedStar Physician Partners Volunteer to Serve the Medical Needs of 100 Tahirih Clients a Year
Tahirih works with MedStar Physician Partners to ensure our clients have access to urgently needed medical care. MedStar—a non-profit, community-based health care organization serving the Maryland and Washington, DC regions—has committed to provide pro bono primary health care services to 100 Tahirih clients per year, giving our clients access to over 18 private medical offices in the Washington, DC Metro area. These donated professional services provide a vital link in ensuring that the women and girls Tahirih serves can access true justice as they strive to become contributing members of our community.
Pro Bono Medical Network
Provide Medical or Dental Care
Are you a medical provider who can assist with the urgent medical needs of women and girls fleeing violence?
In 2007, Tahirih launched the Pro Bono Medical Network—including individual providers and MedStar Physician Partners—to address the urgent medical and dental needs of women and girls fleeing violence. At a critical point in their lives, medical needs that go unaddressed can cause great suffering and may result in long-lasting consequences for our clients’ health and well-being.
The women and girls who Tahirih represents are eligible to gain legal immigrant status based on protections from gender-based violence available under US law. However, while their legal cases are being resolved, Tahirih’s clients lack health insurance or access to public benefits otherwise available to low-income patients. Most of our clients not only lack a primary care physician, they have never even had the opportunity to see an OB/GYN. In addition to medical services, Tahirih clients are often in need of expert medical testimony to corroborate their stories of torture and abuse. This expert testimony provides critical evidence to advance their legal claims.
We know your time is precious and we promise that we will respect it and work to ensure that your volunteer experience is a rewarding one. Tahirih has an in-house social worker who assesses the needs of our clients and makes referrals to the appropriate provider. In addition, Tahirih’s staff will schedule the appointment at a convenient time and work with you to address the need for medical support services.
To join our Pro Bono Medical Network or to learn more about it, email medical@tahirih.org.
Public Policy Advisors
- Impact litigation: Advancing an entire cause through civil litigation, not just an individual client’s case
- Strategic assistance: Helping design and inform our advocacy initiatives, or even advocating directly on our behalf with federal and state lawmakers
- Complex research and analysis: Dedicating significant resources to in-depth and nuanced assignments to help Tahirih understand proposed legislation or policies
- Preparation of public comments: Supporting Tahirih’s submission of comments in response to government solicitations for expert input
- Public education and outreach: Donating the use of facilities for coalition meetings or outreach events, or providing financial support to cover costs
- Media advice: Providing Tahirih with strategic insights, helping staff prepare for media interviews, reviewing press materials, and advising on “new media” approaches
- Compliance counseling: Providing Tahirih with standing access to the expertise of a compliance counsel to guide us on the recording and reporting obligations flowing from our engagement in lobbying activities
Support our Advocacy Efforts
Are you an advocate who wants to raise the voices of immigrant women and girls to important public policy debates?
Tahirih makes extensive use of pro bono public policy champions, enabling us to greatly amplify our efforts to bring about systemic changes to protect women and girls from violence. Tahirih not only leverages relationships with attorneys and firms already representing clients as part of our Pro Bono Attorney Network, but also taps the expertise of government relations and communications professionals and other seasoned advisors outside that network.
A few of the ways in which you can help us to leverage our limited in-house advocacy resources include:
To learn more about our advocacy efforts and how you can be involved, email policy@tahirih.org.
General Volunteer Opportunities
Do you speak a foreign language? Would you like to volunteer at Tahirih events?
Tahirih relies on the work of many volunteers to better serve women and girls fleeing violence. Most volunteer opportunities take place during Tahirih’s business hours, 9-5:30, Monday-Friday.
We routinely need assistance with tasks including:
- Interpretation during client intakes and case management meetings
- Translation of documents
- Transportation of clients to critical appointments
- Support and setup during the annual Benefit or other events
