Additional Legal Resources

Legal Support

The AAUP's legal department supports the AAUP’s activities in various ways, including litigation, submitting amicus briefs, monitoring the legal landscape in higher education, offering workshops, and responding to inquiries regarding higher education law from professors, academic administrators, attorneys, and others. The AAUP’s legal office does not provide legal representation to individual faculty. However, if you are facing a threat to academic freedom on your campus, you can reach out to the staff at the AAUP’s Department of Academic Freedom, Tenure, and Governance (DAFTG) at [email protected]. DAFTG responds to queries from AAUP members and non-members and provides advice regarding Association-supported principles and standards.
 
The ACLU has local offices across the country. For legal assistance, please contact your local affiliate.

The Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) National Legal Defense Fund was created to protect the legal rights of the American Muslim community. You can report an incident through its incident form, call its civil rights hotline at 202-742-6420, or email [email protected].

The Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia litigates freedom of speech issues, especially in digital spaces. It is “strategic litigation designed to have a meaningful impact on the law, public policy, and public opinion,” focusing on free speech and social media, transparency and democracy, and privacy and surveillance. Contact information is available here.

LawHelp.org is an online resource that assists non-lawyers in understanding legal issues. Check out their Legal Aid and other Low-Cost Legal Help guides.

Muslim Advocates uses litigation, policy advocacy, and communications strategies to protect Muslim communities from anti-Muslim discrimination. Those who have experienced discrimination and seek legal assistance can complete this form. Muslim Advocates also provides travel advisories for foreign nationals.

The National Lawyers Guild (NLG) Mass Defense Program is a network of activists, community members, organizers, legal workers, law students, and lawyers who provide legal support for protests and movements. Find your local chapter or consult the referral directory. The NLG also provides guidance for setting up a legal defense fund (additional information here) and a directory of attorneys specializing in immigration issues.

Palestine Legal works with a network of organizations, attorneys, and advocacy groups to respond to requests for legal and advocacy assistance and document suppression incidents. The first step is to fill out their intake form. Palestine Legal does not take cases regarding immigration or criminal defense but can provide referrals. It has prioritized supporting students directly and usually gives staff and faculty a list of lawyers in their area to contact.

Legal Support on Immigration Issues:

African Communities Together supports African immigrants, including helping them find legal services for immigration concerns.

American Immigration Lawyers Association maintains a national directory of immigration lawyers.

The Arab American Anti-Discrimination Committee provides a 24/7 emergency legal hotline–844-ADC-9955 (844-232-9955)–for those facing discrimination or with questions about immigration policies. You can also fill out an incident form. Those contacted by the FBI can call 202-244-2990 for immediate assistance.

The Immigration Advocates Network provides a searchable national directory for legal clinics and other legal services specific to immigration issues.

The Immigrant Legal Resource Center hosts a listserv with updated information for immigration legal service providers and public defenders.

Lawyers for Civil Rights runs an Immigrant Defense Hotline at 617-988-0606, providing timely and free legal advice for immigrants facing imminent threats related to immigration enforcement, such as immigration raids and mass deportations. Callers who leave a message will receive a same-day response to questions about immigration enforcement and reports of immigration raids. You can also reach the hotline via email: [email protected].
Other Know Your Rights resources help immigrants, tenants, and students understand their rights and legal protections.