Please join the International Rescue Committee (IRC) in Denver for its 2026 Annual Asylum Law Conference on May 14th & 15th. The IRC Denver’s Asylum & Pro Bono programs seek to expand the legal community’s capacity to represent asylum seekers before USCIS and the Immigration Court. Currently, Colorado has some of the lowest representation rates in the country, with only 14% of the nearly 70,000 individuals before the Denver Immigration Court being represented. This is at a time when asylum law and policy is rapidly changing, and representation is more important than ever.

This conference aims to train attorneys in the various areas of asylum law so attorneys can feel prepared to competently take on an asylum case for representation. Various experts, attorneys & community members will present on topics ranging from the basic elements of asylum law to appeals and habeas petitions. 

Attorneys prepared to represent an IRC client in their asylum case attend for free.  19 General CLE credits and 1 Ethics credit available over the two day conference.

Schedule

Thursday, May 14 – Day 1: 10 CLE credits available, including 1 Ethics credit 

8:30am Sign in 

9-10am - IRC Denver Welcome & Pro Bono Representation with the IRC: Learn more about the IRC and what it is like to represent an asylum seeker enrolled in our programming. Hear from our pro bono attorneys on their experiences volunteering with us. 

10-11:30am – Asylum 101 - Learn what the basic elements of asylum law are and what makes a non-citizen eligible for asylum.

11:40-1:00 – Bars to Asylum - This session will cover the more complex areas of asylum law including bars to asylum. It will also cover eligibility for the lesser forms of relief: withholding of removal & CAT. 

1-2pm – Catered Lunch – Enjoy a catered lunch while networking with other conference attendees. 

2-3pm – Drafting the Declaration & Trauma Informed Interviewing - Learn about the important elements of conducting an asylum intake and drafting a declaration that explains the clients fear of return to their home country. Hear about trauma informed ways to conduct these interviews with clients from mental health experts.

3:10-4pm - Ethical Considerations in Pro Bono Representation of Asylum Seekers: Learn about your ethical obligations when representing an asylum applicant. What are your ethical duties when trauma is impacting memory and credibility?  When does your pro bono representation need support and where are its limits?

4-5pm - Changing Law & Policy Impact Session: Afghanistan & Family Reunification: Hear about how changing immigration law & policy has created challenges for Afghans in the United States to reunify with family members still in Afghanistan. 

Friday, May 15 - Day 2: 10 CLE credits available 

8:30am – Sign in

9-9:30am Spotlight: IRC’s Rural Legal Services – Challenges and Innovations - This session will explore what immigration legal services are most needed in rural & mountain regions of Colorado and how the IRC and rural partners work to address those needs.

9:30-11am - Asylum Cooperative Agreements & Motions to Pretermit – Learn about what these new policies are and how they interfere with the due process rights of asylum seekers.

11:10-1pm - ICE Supervision, Detention & Habeas Petitions: Learn about heightened ICE supervision & detentions and how to protect your client from harm. Learn about bond and habeas petitions as options for release.

1-2pm – Catered Lunch – Enjoy a catered lunch while networking with other conference attendees 

2-3pm - Preparing the Record & Arguing on Appeal – Learn about how to prepare the record for appeal and what steps are necessary to argue a strong appeal. This session will also cover recent changes for appeals to the Board of Immigration Appeals

3:15-4:15pm – Best Practices in Immigration Court and Q&A with former Immigration Judge Kerri Calcador Hear advice from former Immigration Judge Kerri Calcador on best practices in appearing in immigration court and how to work confidently with attorneys from the Department of Homeland Security. Have a chance to ask Judge Calcador your own questions about her experiences.

4:30-6:30 – Happy Hour Event at Junction Food Hall - Celebrate all you have learned and enjoy an opportunity to network with IRC staff, conference presenters & fellow attendees.

Registration: tickets are available for both days, Thursday only or Friday only. 

Both Days: 

Thursday only: 

Friday only: 

Click here to register.