UCI Law Student Baele Hasbrouck's Country Condition Report Helps Support a Successful Application for Asylum
The University of California, Irvine School of Law (UCI Law) is proud to announce third-year law student Baele Hasbrouck’s Country Conditions Research for the Los Angeles County Bar Association (LACBA) Counsel for Justice Aids Legal Services Project helped support a Nigerian client’s successful application for asylum. The project was undertaken as part of UCI Law’s Pro Bono Program.
Baele’s research showed that there was credible fear of persecution for the HIV positive client. Her report highlighted the denial of healthcare for people living with HIV, discriminatory employment, termination factors and extreme stigma that HIV serostaus has in Nigeria. Her research showed that the client would not be able to take care of herself or her family.
“I came to law school to practice immigration law,” stated Baele Hasbrouck. “I have always wanted to do this type of work to support women, immigrants and people of color. These individuals are in a unique position in life where they face multiple types of discrimination and stigma in many aspects of their life. It is important that we bring these fears and traumas to light.”
UCI Law’s Pro Bono Program is a reflection of the school’s deep commitment to public service and experiential learning. More than 90 percent of UCI Law students participate in pro bono projects. Since 2009, students have contributed more than 125,000 hours of pro bono.