Every month, we give the Amicus Mundi Award to an outstanding lawyer in our community who exemplifies our shared values of service and dedication to building a more just and equitable society. This month, we are celebrating a lawyer who has dedicated his retirement to reuniting families at the border and volunteering with Afghan asylum seekers. Join us in saying…
Congratulations, Jim Sweeney!
Finding Purpose in Retirement: Since retiring a little over a year ago, Jim Sweeney has dedicated a significant amount of time to volunteering through We The Action.
Jim’s remarkable career before law school includes serving with the Peace Corps and as a theater director, where he says he learned how to tell a story, a skill that came in handy as a trial lawyer.
Inspired by his wife, Jim started volunteering with VECINA, an organization that empowers immigrant justice advocates by providing mentorship to attorneys and equipping them with the necessary tools to fight on behalf of immigrants' rights.
“I have found this work very, very fulfilling,” says Jim. “They say that it takes a while to find your rhythm in retirement. This kind of work has become an essential part of how I want to spend the time I have left. The impulse to fulfill a mission doesn’t retire.”
A Need for Humanity: In August, 2021, the Taliban took control of Afghanistan, leaving thousands of people displaced, afraid, and fleeing for their lives. Many of those people, fearful of what would happen if they stayed in their home country, made the difficult journey to the United States.
Organizations like VECINA have provided a vital lifeline to those seeking asylum.
VECINA matches volunteers like Jim with asylum seekers to help them prepare for their interview with immigration officials.
Jim’s Impact: VECINA provides two volunteers for each client, an attorney and a non-attorney. The volunteers, along with an interpreter, help the client highlight important aspects of their story and educate them on the interview process. Jim has worked with 8 clients to make sure they are prepared for the interviews.
Jim says, “It’s a matter of trying to tell their story in their own words, and not some lawyer’s, in order to humanize their situation. This is what I've spent most of my career trying to do.”
“Jim’s role helped set multiple people up for success,” says Molly Chew, Project Director at VECINA. “These are, in many ways, life and death decisions being made. If they lose, they are put at risk of being returned back to extreme danger. The impact of his work is immeasurable.”
The Work Continues: Jim continues to volunteer with VECINA, as there are still so many people seeking help with their immigration cases in the United States.
Jim says he has been changed and humbled by his volunteer work. “Having to flee or immigrate out of fear and restart is an act of heroism. I am in awe of every one of them. Getting to know them is a humbling experience for me.”
Because of his great work, VECINA hopes to continue to work with Jim on complicated, challenging cases.
Jim’s dedication has made an impression on the staff and volunteers at VECINA. “He’s delightful to work with,” says Molly, “and clearly very motivated and driven by the work.”
VECINA currently has sufficient volunteers for the Afghan asylum project. However, you can click here to explore additional WTA volunteer opportunities dedicated to supporting Afghan asylum seekers. If you are specifically interested in volunteering with VECINA, they are actively recruiting volunteers for their family reunification project.