UNL College of Law Relaunches Immigration Clinic via Donor Funding

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln College of Law is relaunching its immigration clinic after securing an anonymous donation.

The immigration clinic originally opened in 1998, giving law students hands-on experience with immigration cases while offering pro-bono legal services. It closed in May after professor Kevin Ruser stepped away from running the program to focus on classroom teaching.

College of Law Dean Richard Moberly said an anonymous donor learned of the closure and provided an undisclosed amount of funding. The gift will keep the clinic open for at least three and up to five years.

“We’ve always been thoughtful that if we were able to find funding for it, that this would be something we’d want to restart,” Moberly said.

Moberly said that students and community members expressed disappointment when the clinic shut down. Students unable to participate in the clinic turned to externships for immigration experience.

The fresh funding will support hiring a new director for the clinic. Administrators are searching for a candidate who can guide both students and clients creatively.

Brett Stohs, director of clinical programs and professor at the College of Law, is leading the search for the new director. Stohs said that the exact capabilities of the clinic will depend on that hire.

The goal is to recruit an experienced professional dedicated to teaching the next generation of immigration attorneys. The immigration law clinic is scheduled to resume operations in fall 2027.

“Our community never wanted this program to go away, and it’s always a challenge in an academic setting because so much of what we do is dependent upon having someone willing to invest their time and professional energy into a program,” Stohs said.