Garfinkel Immigration Law Firm has been named the 2024 American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) Carolinas Chapter “Pro Bono Champion.”
The “Pro Bono Champion” honor is awarded to one firm each year in the Carolinas. Members of the chapter nominate firms based on their Pro Bono contributions and the executive committee then votes on the submissions to determine the winner.
Garfinkel Immigration Law Firm was nominated for the 2024 AILA Carolinas Chapter “Pro Bono Champion” award by the Legal Aid of North Carolina’s “Immigration Pathways for Victims” (IMMPAV) project, which assists and supports immigrant survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and/or trafficking.
“Garfinkel Immigration had multiple attorneys involved in this pro bono project, and in turn their pro bono hours of service allowed Legal Aid of North Carolina to assist even more survivors,” said Anna Cushman, staff attorney at Legal Aid of NC — Immigration Pathways for Victims. “They met the need with a thoughtful, thorough approach. … That Garfinkel Immigration Law would implement such a pro bono service model to the benefit of so many is deserving of recognition by AILA Carolinas Chapter. Their example of dedicated service may yet spur others to consider a similar pro bono project with Legal Aid of NC’s IMMPAV clients.”
The AILA Carolinas Chapter represents more than 400 immigration lawyers across North and South Carolina, according to the organization.
Garfinkel Immigration was also recognized in late May as the Legal Aid of North Carolina 2024 “Pro Bono Firm of the Year” at the Mecklenburg County Bar Annual Meeting.
Last summer, eight of Garfinkel Immigration’s attorneys trained with Legal Aid of North Carolina to undertake pro bono representation of individuals in their U visa adjustment of status cases, which is a pathway for victims of criminal activity to gain 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 Legal Aid of North Carolina IMMPAV on a pro bono basis.
Two Garfinkel Immigration Partners inducted into 2023 North Carolina Pro Bono Honor Society
Similarly, Garfinkel Immigration Law Firm Managing Partner Hannah F. Little and Partner Colleen F. Molner were both inducted earlier this month into the 2023 North Carolina Attorney Pro Bono Honor Society.
Attorneys who are honored by the North Carolina Pro Bono Honor Society must volunteer at least 50 hours of pro bono legal services “to those who are unable to pay” during the calendar year in which they are selected, according to the North Carolina Pro Bono Resource Center.
“The North Carolina Pro Bono Honor Society celebrates those attorneys who have met their professional responsibility … increasing access to justice for those in need,” the center’s website read. “The Society allows the North Carolina legal profession to celebrate the importance of attorney volunteerism and to encourage colleagues and peers to get involved.”
Little and Molner are both certified as Specialists in Immigration Law by the North Carolina State Bar, the highest level of specialization attainable in the state. Both were recently honored by Who’s Who Legal, Super Lawyers and named to the 2024 Business North Carolina Legal Elite list.
In addition, Little was named the 2024 Best Lawyers® Immigration Law “Lawyer of the Year” in Charlotte as well as recognized with the esteemed Thought Leader-USA-Corporate Immigration designation by Who’s Who Legal.
Little and Molner both received a “certificate from the Supreme Court of North Carolina recognizing their valuable contributions to the people of North Carolina” following their induction into the 2023 North Carolina Pro Bono Honor Society.
Other Garfinkel Immigration Law Firm pro bono initiatives
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.
Moreover, 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.
Further reading
Garfinkel Immigration Law Firm recognized in 2023 edition of ‘Charlotte’s Best’ awards
Four Garfinkel Immigration Law Firm Partners honored in 2024 edition of Who’s Who Legal