legal services
There have never been enough immigration attorneys on the Central Coast to meet the need. MARIPOSA is building a local answer through the DOJ's Recognition and Accreditation Program, which authorizes trained non-attorneys to practice immigration law through recognized nonprofits. Real legal help, provided by people from this community, at a cost working families can manage.
what is an accredited representative?
The federal government created the Recognition and Accreditation Program more than 60 years ago because there have never been enough immigration attorneys to meet the need. Catholic Charities and Jewish Family Services were among the first organizations to see the gap and ask for a solution. The program allows trained non-attorneys, working through recognized nonprofit organizations, to become accredited by the DOJ to practice immigration law.
Simply put: accredited representatives do real immigration legal work. They're not paralegals, and they're not volunteers with a pamphlet. They go through rigorous training, a criminal background check, and a formal application process before the DOJ grants them authority to practice.
There are two levels. Partial Accredited Representatives help clients apply for green cards, citizenship, and humanitarian protections. Full Accredited Representatives can also represent clients in immigration court. Neither type practices law in any other kind of court.
what it takes
Earning accreditation is not a quick process.
To become a Full Accredited Representative, a candidate must demonstrate broad knowledge of immigration law through:
a current resume and documented formal training including at least one fundamentals course
at least two letters of recommendation from people with firsthand knowledge of both the candidate's qualifications and immigration law
proof of litigation skills: legal research, presenting evidence, examining witnesses, and preparing briefs and motions
Once approved, accreditation is valid for three years. Representatives must complete at least ten hours of continuing immigration training per year and renew on time or lose their standing.
why it matters
Private immigration attorneys are expensive, and there aren't enough of them on the Central Coast. Families in Ventura, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo counties have limited options.
Many have turned to notarios, unlicensed practitioners who charge for services they can't legally provide and whose mistakes can end in deportation.
Accredited representatives change that equation. They provide the same quality of legal help as a licensed attorney, through a community organization families already know and trust, at a cost that reflects what working families can actually afford.
what it takes
MARIPOSA Advocacy is pursuing initial accreditation through the DOJ's Recognition and Accreditation Program.
We have staff who have completed their training and their applications are ready to submit. Four more team members are working through the process now.
In early 2025, the DOJ abruptly reassigned the senior attorneys who ran the R&A Program, leaving two support staff with no legal authority to approve or renew applications. No timeline has been given for when reviews will resume. We are watching this closely and will update our community as the situation develops.
When the program is restored, we will be ready.
get involved
If you're a young person on the Central Coast who wants to do this work, please reach out.
We're looking for people who are bilingual, connected to immigrant communities, and planning to stay and build a career here.
No legal background required.