Seeking Asylum in the United States: The Expert Witness Training Project

Expert testimony can be critical to the outcome of asylum hearings. Academics and others with knowledge of country conditions and medical and mental health professionals can harness their expertise to support asylum-seekers fleeing harm.

This training is designed to provide members of the academic community, professionals and others with specialized knowledge with an overview of the purposes served by experts in these cases. Expert witnesses and immigration attorneys will explain the uses of expert evidence in asylum claims, offer practical advice on providing written and oral testimony and engage in a discussion on the collaboration between attorneys and experts. Carolina law students will present a mock trial examination of expert witnesses.

There will be one session specifically addressing country conditions experts followed by a second session devoted to mental health and medical evaluations.  You can register for both sessions if you wish. Light refreshments will be provided.

The event is free, but registration is required.  Please register online by October 31. A full agenda is available at the registration link. Materials will be provided to those who register.

Please contact Deborah M. Weissman, weissman@email.unc.edu, at the UNC School of Law with any questions you may have.

This event is sponsored by the School of Law and the Institute for the Study of the Americas.