Farmworker & Immigration Rights Clinic (FIRC)

Directed by Professor Erika Nyborg-Burch

FIRC, located in Tallahassee, represents immigrant and farmworker clients in Northern Florida, focusing on low-income clients who are seeking humanitarian relief in removal proceedings. Clinical students take the lead in all aspects of client cases, including interviewing, counseling, and fact development; conducting legal research and developing case theory; preparing witnesses to testify; and advocating before agencies and courts. Through the Tallahassee-based clinic, students also engage in community education projects and advocate for the rights of immigrants and farmworkers in the North Florida community, often in collaboration with community partners.

In addition to fieldwork, students participate in a seminar where they learn substantive immigration and labor law, develop advocacy and lawyering skills, form collaborative relationships with their peers, analyze the social and political context of their fieldwork, and reflect on their roles as lawyers and advocates.


Students – How to Apply for Enrollment

1. Register for the Farmworker & Immigration Rights Clinic course through your myFSU portal.
2. Fill out this simple form
3. There are no pre-requisites 
4. CLI status not required
5. Open to all students beginning the summer after 1L year


Clients/Clientes – How to Apply for Legal Services/Para Solicitar Servicios Legales 

1. Call/Llamar al 850.644.9928
2. Email/Correo electrónico Erika Nyborg-Burch, enyborgburch@law.fsu.edu



Student Testimonials

  • "Participating in the Farmworker and Immigration Rights Clinic was an incredible opportunity that allowed me to help clients navigate the immigration process to reunite with their families. I was able to develop advocacy and other essential skills useful for a future law career. Through this clinic, I gained knowledge about the various issues and barriers that immigrants encounter while dealing with the immigration system." 

    - Christen Asiedu ('25)

    about Lorem Ipsum

  • "While taking the Clinic, I learned invaluable skills and was able to form strong relationships with my clients and with other law students. I was able to engage in direct representation and also work on policy advocacy, which I found to be extremely gratifying. I strongly recommend that other law students take advantage of the opportunity to learn more about the U.S. immigration system while simultaneously giving back to our local immigrant and farmworker communities!" 

    - Nida Imtiaz ('22)

    about Lorem Ipsum

  • "Working with asylum seekers was an eye-opening experience! With the clinic, we worked with survivors of political persecution, and we helped them start their immigration proceedings so that they can successfully relocate in the U.S. This was a great opportunity to meet people coming from different parts of the world and learn from their experiences." 

    - Abril Smith Caeiro ('23)

    about Lorem Ipsum


Recent Highlights   

 Students prevailed in state court proceedings and petitions for Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) on behalf of children who fled domestic and gang violence to reunite with family in the United States.

 Students met with community members to conduct legal screening workshops and identified undocumented community members who may be eligible for a pathway to citizenship.

 Students continued to advocate for a more just and fair immigration system, submitting public comments to educate the federal government on the potential impact of proposed federal rules that would affect the rights of the asylum seekersDACA recipients, and families separated at the U.S.-Mexico border whom the students represent. 


 In the spring of 2022, students won an asylum case for a human rights defender from Nicaragua, filing her application, gathering hundreds of pages of evidence, drafting her legal brief, and representing her during her asylum interview.

 Students continued to work on a high-impact litigation case on behalf of a farmworker family whom ICE is attempting to deport despite their long-term residence in the United States, U.S. citizen children, and roles as essential workers during the pandemic. The outcome of the case has the potential of benefitting thousands of immigrants who received deficient notices to appear in immigration court. 


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