Columbus Community Legal Services offers three distinct clinical courses: the Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Clinic; the Families and the Law Clinic; and the Low Income Taxpayer Clinic.

Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Clinic

The Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Clinic (IRAC) offers students the opportunity to represent, under the supervision of a clinic attorney, immigrant and refugee clients living in D.C., Virginia, and Maryland. IRAC handles bond hearings in Arlington Immigration Court, affirmative asylum cases, employment authorization, naturalization, and Board of Immigration Appeals matters. Students present their clients’ cases in immigration court or advocate on behalf of clients with local and federal administrative agencies. IRAC partners with nonprofit organizations to remotely assist individuals in detention centers around the country. IRAC students also participate in limited legal assistance projects or policy reform initiatives at the local and federal levels.

Families and the Law Clinic

The Families and the Law Clinic (FALC) is designed to help students develop lawyering skills through practical experience, to take on cases of domestic violence, family law, and immigration law. By representing persons who would otherwise proceed pro se, FALC students gain hands-on experience while learning the dynamics of domestic violence and poverty.

Low-Income Taxpayer Clinic

CCLS’s Low Income Taxpayer Clinic (LITC) provides direct representation to low-income taxpayers in controversies with the IRS dealing with such issues as return filing, IRS correspondence examinations and IRS face-to-face examinations, IRS collections, and appeals to the IRS. LITC will also assist taxpayers with judicial review before the United States Tax Court as necessary. The clinic will also develop a taxpayer education workshop which will cover such topics as an overview of the IRS and Federal Income Tax systems, the importance of proper completion of the W-4, different filing statuses, dependents, deductions, and various tax credits, specifically, but not limited to, Earned Income Tax Credit, homeownership credits, child credits, and education credits. At each taxpayer education workshop, taxpayers will also have an opportunity to obtain limited advice and consultation regarding their personal tax issues.