Paul, Weiss, The Door and Pfizer Collaborate to Help First Time DACA Applicants

Paul, Weiss, in partnership with legal service provider The Door, collaborated with attorneys and legal professionals from Pfizer to assist with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) applications for seven pro bono clients. The Door’s mission is to empower young people to reach their potential by providing comprehensive youth development services in a diverse and caring environment.

The clinic, held virtually on May 12, served first-time DACA applicants who have lived in the U.S. for the majority of their lives and hope to continue to attend school and work in the U.S. As a result of this first-of-its-kind partnership, our pro bono clients will receive a renewable two-year period of deferred action from deportation and become eligible for a work permit in the U.S.

To be eligible for the DACA program, recipients must have come to the U.S. as children, have continuously resided in the U.S. since June 15, 2007, be enrolled in school or have a high school diploma or GED, and cannot have felonies or serious misdemeanors on their records.

The clinic was organized by pro bono attorney Emily Donohoe. The Paul, Weiss team included litigation partner Andrew Ehrlich, who supervised the clinic, counsel Farrah Berse and associates Matthew J. Barnett and Nina Kovalenko; and corporate associates Karlota Borges, David Clements, Chad de Souza, Yuan Percy Gao, Danielle Goldenberg and Alexandra Shofe.