|
Human Trafficking Training on October 17
The State Bar of Michigan, The Joseph Project, Lakeshore Legal Aid, D. Augustus Straker Bar Association, and the Oakland County Bar Association are partnering to offer a human trafficking training on Thursday, October 17, 2019, from 8:00 a.m.–noon. The Legal First Responders: Equipping Attorneys to Empower Human Trafficking Survivors training will be hosted by WMU-Cooley Law School at its Auburn Hills Campus. There will be a simultaneous broadcast of the training to WMU-Cooley’s campuses in Lansing and Grand Rapids. The event is free of charge with the commitment to accept a human trafficking referral on a pro bono basis within one year of the training.
Human trafficking is a growing problem all over the world. In the U.S., thousands of trafficking cases are reported each year. In Michigan, more than 400 victims of human trafficking we were identified in 2017. Human trafficking is a crime perpetrated by those who commercially exploit others for sex and labor services through force, fraud, or coercion. Trafficking survivors often face legal obstacles that arise from the circumstances of their enslavement, yet, they frequently lack the means to secure legal assistance, creating a justice gap. Closing the justice gap requires the creation of a broad network of legal first responders—an army of attorneys who are equipped to service the legal needs of every identifiable trafficking survivor, at no cost. By leveraging the law and addressing the legal consequences of exploitation, pro bono attorneys can help transition survivors toward a better future.
The human trafficking training will help equip the growing network of legal first responders committed to helping trafficking survivors in Michigan. The training will be provided by attorneys and other subject matter experts with extensive experience providing services to human trafficking survivors and in-depth knowledge of many of the legal issues that affect them. Presenters include:
Jennifer Grieco
President, State Bar of Michigan
Amy Allen
Forensic Interviewer, Department of Homeland Security
Elizabeth Campbell
Clinical Assistant Professor of Law in the Human Trafficking Clinic, University of Michigan Law School
Kelly Carter
Senior Attorney Specialist, Human Trafficking Unit, Michigan Department of Attorney General
Nate Knapper
Founder & CEO, The Joseph Project
Ashley Lowe
CEO, Lakeshore Legal Aid
The intensive training is designed to provide attorneys with a solid foundation and understanding of the issues and obstacles survivors of trafficking frequently face that arise from the circumstances of their enslavement, including expungement, guardianship, and immigration issues.
This training has been approved by the Michigan Indigent Defense Commission for up to 3.5 hours of credit.
Register Today!
For general questions about the training, contact Robert Mathis at rmathis@michbar.org or (800) 968-1442, ext. 6412.
For substantive questions about human trafficking and what to expect when providing legal assistance to human trafficking survivors, contact Nate Knapper, Founder & CEO of The Joseph Project, at knapper.nate@josephproject.com or (248) 497-0444.
For questions about MIDC credit, contact Merri Lee Jones at mjones@ocba.org or (248) 334-3400.
Also Sponsored By
|