VIISTA — VILLANOVA INTERDISCIPLINARY IMMIGRATION STUDIES TRAINING FOR ADVOCATES

Villanova Interdisciplinary Immigration Studies Training for Advocates (VIISTA) is a new, 100% online interdisciplinary educational program that trains students to become immigrant advocates ready to serve migrants and refugees.

VIISTA is the first university-based online certificate program to train immigrant advocates. Designed by an interdisciplinary team of leading faculty, lawyers, and NGOs, VIISTA revolutionizes education about the law by educating legal advocates (akin to nurse practitioners in health care). Graduates will be eligible, under existing regulations, to apply to become Department of Justice “accredited representatives,” non-lawyers authorized to provide low-cost legal representation to migrant and refugee families.

KJ