NMILC Pro Bono Attorney Helped Create “Pro Bono Law License” For Retired Attorneys Looking To Help Nonprofit Organization
By: Delaney Swink / NMILC Volunteer & Development Coordinator
Deb Solove represented physicians and physician practices for more than 30 years. Now retired, Solove continues to help our community with her law experience working with immigrant youth as a pro bono attorney at both Pegasus Law and at the New Mexico Immigrant Law Center. At NMILC, Solove works with multiple Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) clients to jumpstart their cases and get them started on their path towards lawful permanent residency.
“Meeting with clients is the reward; it’s all about the clients,” Solove says.
As a retired attorney, Solove practices law through what is called a “Pro Bono License” through the New Mexico State Bar. This type of license allows retired attorneys to practice law pro bono under the auspices of a nonprofit organization, without requiring the payment of bar dues (which can be a financial burden on retired attorneys and dissuade them from using their skills and expertise in retirement). Solove played a role in advocating for the creation of this pro bono law license in New Mexico in an effort to encourage retiring attorneys in a similar position to provide legal services pro bono via nonprofit organizations who do work that they care about.
“All immigrants have to go through the immigration process, and when they can’t afford the process they turn to NMILC,” Solove says. “We as lawyers have to recognize that and help where we can.”
While Solove has experience working with children and families through Kinship Guardianship cases at Pegasus Law, the SIJS team at NMILC has been able to support and mentor her in learning the ins and outs of SIJS immigration cases as they relate to family law in making claims for declaratory judgements and obtaining state predicate orders. Solove is also working on improving her spoken Spanish, however, language barriers do not keep her from providing pro bono services to young immigrant clients. NMILC volunteer interpreters provide language access so that the clients’ stories are heard and accurately conveyed for their cases.
NMILC encourages attorneys from any area of law to consider volunteering with our programs, no background in immigration law required. Attorneys at any point in their careers can reach out about volunteering at NMILC! Fill out the inquiry form below to connect with our team and learn how you can get involved!
Delaney Swink is NMILC’s Volunteer & Development Coordinator.
Posted February 27, 2022 by Delaney Swink, Volunteer & Development Coordinator.
Edited by Flaviano Graciano, Communications Manager
Photographs by Lydia Philips, Communications Specialist
