Steve Schulman Quoted by Law360 on Akin Gump’s Pro Bono Efforts in Afghanistan

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Law360, in its article “Lawyers Act To Help Afghans Who Fear For Their Lives,” has quoted Akin Gump pro bono partner Steven Schulman on the firm’s efforts related to the crisis in Afghanistan.
Among these efforts, the article notes that lawyers at Akin Gump are assisting a nongovernmental organization with obtaining nearly 50 visas for their personnel seeking to flee the country. The article also spotlights the number of Akin Gump lawyers working on asylum cases, including for those involving former Afghanistan government officials.
Regarding the interest from lawyers across the firm to assist in these efforts, Schulman said, “We do have a number of […] attorneys who have reached out who know people trying to get people out of Afghanistan, and we are trying to help the best we can. It’s a very sensitive and tenuous process.”
Schulman notes that lawyers firmwide have banded together to work on these efforts as quickly and effectively as possible, including compiling a team to work on asylum cases and distribute training on the asylum process in under 24 hours. He added, “Everybody is doing what they can to offer help and figure out how they can help. It’s incredible to see the firm and the entire legal community come together and think about solutions.”
In addition to the pro bono efforts, the article notes the firm’s $125,000 charitable donation to International Refugee Assistance Project, which helps refugees leaving Afghanistan. The firm is also donating to Vital Voices, an organization that supports women activists in Afghanistan.