Assisting the Afghan Support Committee of the International Association of Women Judges

The Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan in August 2021 put the lives of hundreds of thousands of Afghans in peril. Members of the legal profession, particularly women, were among the most at-risk. DLA Piper, in collaboration with the Afghan Support Committee of the International Association of Women Judges (IAWJ), took swift action to provide legal support to IAWJ’s more than 250 Afghan members. Our firm’s global reach and determination were instrumental in assisting more than 200 Afghan women judges and their families in navigating the complexities of the global migration system as they sought safe resettlement.

“The women judges of Afghanistan are pathbreaking lawyers who stepped up to lead their country’s judiciary at great personal risk. They are entitled to international protection, and it is a privilege to support them as they begin the next chapters of their lives,” said Amanda McCaffrey (San Francisco). “Our firm is fortunate to have them as clients, and our communities are fortunate to have them as neighbors, colleagues, and friends.”

Our all-hands-on-deck approach involved creating a streamlined process for legal screening, information dissemination, provision of brief services, and direct representation on various immigration relief applications, including asylum, adjustment of status, temporary protected status, and humanitarian parole. The firm worked with several global law firms as well as in-house counsel at Pfizer on this effort.

“Working with the various Afghan women judges since the fall of Kabul to the Taliban has been a rewarding pro bono experience. I have rejoiced in experiencing the power of a multi-firm pro bono initiative and in having a role in helping these wonderful women,” said Kristin Franceschi (Baltimore).

More than 300 DLA Piper volunteers in the US alone contributed more than 11,500 hours of service to the judges and their families, exemplifying the firm’s unwavering commitment to justice and human rights.

DLA Piper in the US has:

• Provided intake and legal information to nearly 100 Afghan women judges and their families
• Readied nearly 30 families for their refugee interviews
• Prepared referrals to the US Refugee Admissions Program for more than 140 individuals
• Provided full representation for more than 20 judges and their families with asylum, humanitarian parole, and adjustment of status applications

DLA Piper volunteers continue to advocate for Afghan women judges and take pride in the asylum grants obtained by our teams.

“An asylum case, at its heart, remains a story of trauma, but it is also a story of survival and indomitable human spirit. I am very happy our client’s case was rightfully approved and that her family – particularly her three precious little girls – can make a good life in this country,” said Roshan Bhattarai, a Washington, DC associate. “The impact of our work extends beyond legal victories; it’s about providing a beacon of hope and a new beginning for those who have faced unimaginable adversity.”

DLA Piper’s commitment to pro bono service is a cornerstone of the firm’s ethos. The Afghan Women Judges project is a testament to the power of collective effort and the spirit of giving back. We are immensely proud of our lawyers and volunteers who have demonstrated exceptional dedication to serving those in need.