In light of multiple new BIA and attorney general decisions, it has become increasingly difficult to meet the burden of proof in an asylum case. It is more important than ever for asylum practitioners to come up with creative evidentiary solutions to corroborate their clients’ claims. In this intermediate session, the panel of experts will discuss thinking outside the box and address ways to meet the required burden of proof.

Featured Topics

• Analyzing the Evidence: How to Ensure Your Own Evidence Isn’t Used Against You
• How to Perform Country Conditions Research
• Making Country Conditions Evidence Count: What Evidence Is Best?
• How to Use Experts: Medical, Psychological, and Country Conditions
• Creative Corroboration: How to Think Outside the Box to Locate Corroborating Evidence

Faculty

Jenna Kristin Gilbert (DL), Los Angeles, CA

Jenna Kristin Gilbert is the Managing Attorney of the Los Angeles office of Human Rights First, where she oversees the pro bono legal representation of indigent asylum seekers. She provides mentorship, training, and support to volunteer lawyers from law firms in the Los Angeles area who represent asylum seekers at all levels of the system. Before joining Human Rights First, Ms. Gilbert was an associate immigration attorney at a private immigration firm in Los Angeles, CA, where she managed a large caseload of defensive and affirmative immigration cases. Ms. Gilbert currently serves as an asylum liaison with AILA SoCal. She received her Juris Doctorate from Loyola Law School, Los Angeles.

Dree Collopy, Asylum and Refugee Committee Chair/AILA Author, AILA's Asylum Primer: A Practical Guide to U.S. Asylum Law and Procedure, 8th Ed., Washington DC

Dree Collopy is a partner of Benach Collopy LLP in Washington, D.C. A recognized asylum expert, Dree serves as chair of AILA's Asylum and Refugee Committee and is the author of AILA's Asylum Primer. She frequently lectures and publishes on cutting-edge immigration issues and is a member of the adjunct faculty at American University's Washington College of Law. Dree has been recognized for her contributions to the field of immigration law and for her work in advancing and defending the cause of refugees, receiving the AILA President’s Commendation Award in both 2013 and 2016 and the Joseph Minsky Award in 2014.

Karin Tolgu, Seattle, WA

Karin Tolgu is a solo practitioner in Seattle, WA. Her firm handles a variety of complex immigration issues, including removal defense, asylum, T- and U- visas, waivers, family-based applications, and naturalization. She is a frequent speaker on the subject of immigration law at AILA events and community forums

By registering for this seminar you agree to abide by the AILA Virtual Code of Conduct.

Free Downloadable Seminar Recording Included with Live Registration Included with registration, participants in the live seminar will receive a free downloadable recording of the seminar. It will be available in participant's Agora Digital Library approximately 4-7 business days from the seminar date.