Garfinkel Immigration is honored to be recognized as the 2024 “Pro Bono Firm of the Year” by Legal Aid of North Carolina (LANC).
Garfinkel Immigration Law Firm was nominated for the recognition by the LANC’s “Immigration Pathways for Victims” (IMMPAV) project, which assists and supports immigrant survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and/or trafficking.
“We are thrilled and humbled by this award,” Garfinkel Immigration Managing Partner Hannah F. Little said. “It shows the spirit, dedication and service embodied by our mission and by our team members. Our Firm believes in the power of pro bono work to drive meaningful change, and we are truly honored to be recognized by Legal Aid of North Carolina.”
The Firm’s Partners, attorneys and paralegals accepted the award Tuesday at the Mecklenburg County Bar Annual Meeting held at the Parr Center Café and Theater on the Central Piedmont Community College Central Campus.
Garfinkel Immigration Law Firm is the first immigration law firm ever to be named the Legal Aid of North Carolina Pro Bono Firm of the Year, LANC IMMPAV Managing Attorney Rona Karacaova said during the award presentation.
“We are really excited to be able to honor Garfinkel Immigration Law Firm,” Karacaova said during the ceremony. “They generously provided attorneys and paralegals who have helped our clients apply for lawful permanent residence and obtain work permits. Without them, clients who were eligible to become lawful permanent residents would not have had the opportunity to do so. We thank them for their service and for the enthusiasm with which they have embraced this work.”
Legal Aid of North Carolina is a nonprofit law firm which “provides free legal services in civil matters to low-income people in order to ensure equal access to justice and to remove legal barriers to economic opportunity.” The organization is the third largest law firm in the state and serves all 100 counties in N.C.
Last year, Legal Aid of North Carolina assisted more than 65,000 people, including 30,000 children, across more than 25,000 cases.
Last summer, eight of Garfinkel Immigration’s attorneys trained with LANC to undertake representation of individuals in their U visa adjustment of status cases, which is a pathway for victims of criminal activity to gain legal work permits and lawful permanent residence status (green cards). Several of Garfinkel Immigration’s paralegals also assisted with preparing and filing U visa adjustment of status cases under the supervision of the attorneys. The Firm intends to continue to provide its attorneys and paralegals as resources to the LANC IMMPAV on a pro bono basis.
Garfinkel Immigration is committed to making a positive impact in the local, national as well as international community and the Firm’s staff members log hundreds of hours, combined, on pro bono cases each year.
“Our time with the Legal Aid of North Carolina’s Immigration Pathways for Victims project is just one of our Firm’s many areas of pro bono work,” Little said. “I am proud of our staff and our attorneys for really carrying this mission forward as part of our day-to-day practice and making it part of our daily routine.”
Further, Garfinkel Immigration recently continued its “day of service” tradition with a volunteer event at Charlotte Bilingual Preschool and contributes each year to the community via its Charitable Fund, which returns a portion of the Firm’s profits to organizations in the local area that reflect its core values of inclusion, equality as well as social and economic justice.
With 11 attorneys and more than 35 experienced paralegals and administrative personnel, Garfinkel Immigration is one of the largest law firms in the Southeast United States dedicated exclusively to the practice of immigration law.
In its 27th year, Garfinkel Immigration represents Fortune 100 companies and businesses of all sizes in the U.S. and worldwide. The Firm also assists individuals with investor and family-based immigration matters.
Garfinkel Immigration Law Firm builds strong relationships with its clients based on trust and performance, leveraging creative approaches and industry-leading expertise to provide insight and legal advice. The Firm is known for its responsiveness, close contact, partnership with H.R. managers and leadership, and effectiveness in executing the legal work.
Garfinkel Immigration’s top priority is to provide high-quality legal services to the businesses and individuals it serves.