Orbit Law, PLLC Provides Pro-Bono Services to Nonprofits
Seattle, WA (PRWEB) October 12, 2017 -- Steve Tanijo and Kripa Upadhyay, managing partners of Orbit Law, PLLC, recently entered into a pro-bono partnership with InterIm CDA, one of Seattle’s oldest and most well-regarded nonprofits. “We will be helping them conduct free legal clinics on matters of immigration, employee rights and civil rights to the low-income, immigrant and refugee populations that they serve,” said Tanijo.
InterIm CDA is an affordable housing and community development organization based in Seattle’s Chinatown/International District. It provides multi-lingual, culturally competent housing-related and community building services to Asian, Pacific Islander, and immigrant and refugee communities in Seattle.
As pro-bono service is a cornerstone of the firm, Tanijo and Upadhyay have dedicated their business to take on 6-8 pro-bono cases per year, requiring at least 50-100 hours of work per case. These cases are generally for victims of violence (U-Visa); applications for political asylum (generally children fleeing violence in South and Central America); and individuals seeking refuge from countries where they have either been subjected to torture or are afraid of being subjected to torture if returned.
Orbit Law has also partnered with many other altruistic organizations, most recently with the University of Washington’s School of Social Work to allow a Masters in Social Work (MSW) student to complete their practicum at the law firm. The MSW student will be working as a case manager to assist particular Orbit Law clients and their families access social services/counseling and support services for its clients that are unaccompanied minors fleeing persecution/gang violence in South and Central America, survivors of domestic violence and victims of crimes.
Additionally, Orbit Law frequently conducts free seminars and information sessions on immigration issues of concern to the larger immigrant community in the greater Seattle area. “In the past, we have hosted seminars for newly resettled refugees, newly arriving immigrants, and low-income communities,” noted Upadhyay, a first-generation immigrant from Nepal. “Because of the political climate, we have noticed an increase in fear mongering and people are scared. As a response, we have been actively pursuing nonprofits and doing events to let people know what their rights are.”
Orbit Law is also affiliated, on a pro-bono basis, with Pacific Islander Health Board of Washington; Empower Nepali Girls, of which Upadhyay is a board member, whose mission is to empower and support neglected, marginalized, and at-risk girls and young women in Nepal, especially those who are at greatest risk to be forced into early marriage, sold into sex slavery, or abandoned as orphans; and Project Kids Art, which was founded by Tanijo and whose mission is to provide underprivileged children who are orphaned, disabled, abandoned, destitute, and from other vulnerable groups with food, shelter, clothing, healthcare, art skills, and recreation.
About Steve Tanijo and Kripa Upadhyay, Orbit Law, PLLC
Steve Tanijo practices family-based immigration, adjustment of status and asylum and representation in removal proceedings. Kripa Upadhyay represents corporations and individuals from around the world in employment/investor-based immigration. She also assists corporations and businesses in devise compliance strategies in order to remain compliant with all State and Federal regulations for employers. Practice areas of Orbit Law, PLLC now include comprehensive Immigration Law services for individuals, families, businesses and international investors, in addition to the newly added Business Law and Employment Law practice areas. For more information, please call (206) 623-3352, or visit http://www.orbitlawpllc.com. The law office is located at 509 Olive Way, Suite 611, Seattle, WA 98101.
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