Garfinkel Immigration has been named the 2026 American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) Carolinas Chapter Pro Bono Champion in recognition of the Firm’s ongoing commitment to pro bono humanitarian immigration representation across the region.
The Firm was nominated for the award by Legal Aid of North Carolina (LANC), a nonprofit law firm that provides free legal services to low-income individuals and families across the state.
LANC handles matters involving housing rights and unlawful evictions, disaster recovery, workplace and driver’s license issues, children’s safety, and other civil legal needs affecting vulnerable communities statewide. Last year alone, the organization took on more than 25,000 cases.
The nomination highlighted Garfinkel Immigration’s support of LANC’s Immigration Pathways for Victims (IMMPAV) project, which assists immigrant survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and human trafficking. During a period of overwhelming demand and limited internal capacity in 2023, the Firm’s attorneys provided pro bono support to U visa clients pursuing adjustment of status applications and employment authorization renewals, forms of relief often critical to long-term stability and security for survivors and their families.
Since then, Garfinkel attorneys have continued to represent clients in humanitarian matters, even as immigration processes and adjudications have become increasingly challenging.
In 2025, the Firm assisted 15 Legal Aid of North Carolina clients with U visa-based adjustment applications and employment authorization renewals, helping survivors maintain legal status and employment authorization as they rebuilt their lives in the United States.
The Firm expanded its efforts even further during a particularly difficult period for Legal Aid of North Carolina following funding cuts and staffing reductions that forced the organization to withdraw from representation in hundreds of pending humanitarian immigration matters.
In response, Garfinkel Immigration again stepped forward to help ensure affected clients would not lose access to legal representation during critical stages of their immigration matters.
Most recently, the Firm took on 18 additional humanitarian cases involving survivors and their family members, assisting with employment authorization renewals and ongoing immigration support.
“Garfinkel Immigration Law exemplifies the highest ideals of pro bono service,” Legal Aid of North Carolina wrote in the nomination. “The Firm has made an outsized impact through its responsiveness, generosity, and unwavering commitment to immigrant survivors. Their partnership has been indispensable to Legal Aid of NC’s ability to meet client needs during times of both stability and crisis.”
The nomination also recognized the Firm’s broader support of Legal Aid’s mission beyond direct legal representation.
Managing Partner Hannah F. Little shared technology expertise and facilitated introductions within the sector that helped Legal Aid of North Carolina gain access to AI-based legal research and case preparation tools. Those resources continue to strengthen the organization’s ability to serve immigrant communities statewide.
“This recognition reflects the incredible dedication of our attorneys and staff, who have remained deeply committed to ensuring vulnerable individuals and families continue to have access to quality immigration representation,” Little said. “We are honored to partner with Legal Aid of North Carolina and proud to support survivors seeking safety, stability and long-term opportunity in the United States.”
The AILA Carolinas Chapter Pro Bono Champion recognition honors one law firm and one attorney each year for exceptional commitment to expanding access to immigration legal services through pro bono advocacy and community partnership efforts. Garfinkel Immigration Law Firm also previously received the award in 2024.
About Garfinkel Immigration Law Firm
With 10 attorneys — five of whom are certified as Specialists in Immigration Law by the North Carolina State Bar — and more than 35 experienced paralegals and administrative personnel, Garfinkel Immigration is one of the largest law firms in the Southeast United States dedicated exclusively to the practice of immigration law.
Garfinkel Immigration Law Firm, a WBENC certified, majority-owned women’s business, builds strong relationships with its clients based on trust and performance, leveraging creative approaches and industry-leading expertise to provide insight and legal advice.