Nearly 150 students attended IRAP’s ninth annual Student Summit, where representatives from IRAP law school chapters across the United States and Canada participated in workshops and engaged with experts in the field of refugee legal aid.
Panelists speak to students on day 2 of the summit.
During the event, keynote speaker and former United States Ambassador to the United Nations, Samantha Power, touched upon the politicization of refugees and responded to questions about the United States’ relationship with the United Nations during and post-Trump. Students also heard from Dr. Sheetal Patel, who talked about working with clients with trauma and memory loss, and participated in a selection of workshops that addressed topics ranging from how to sue the government and advocate on behalf of refugees, to how to best work with pro bono attorneys and interview clients.
Students had the opportunity to interact with panels of IRAP staff, partners and former clients, and listened to a special recorded message from Karen Korematsu, daughter of civil rights activist Fred Korematsu and Founder and Executive Director of the Fred T. Korematsu Institute. Korematsu is a strong opponent to Trump’s Muslim Ban and other racially targeted government policies, such as the one that sent her family into Japanese internment during World War II.
IRAP would like to thank Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP for hosting IRAP’s Student Summit once again, and Skadden Arps LLP for sponsoring a happy hour.
Students directed questions to former US Ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power.
Mariko Hirose, IRAP’s Litigation Director, addresses the summit.
Students listen closely to a prerecorded video from Karen Korematsu.