We are proud to announce that The Law Offices of James A. Welcome is continuing its community partnership with Sacred Heart University for the Fall 2025 semester. This marks the second time we’ll serve as a community partner for students in the Political Science and Global Affairs department, led by Professor Kate O’Gara. We’re excited to welcome a new group of students into our firm, where they’ll complete service-learning hours and gain a firsthand look at how immigration law intersects with real people’s lives.
In a time where foreign policy and immigration decisions can shift rapidly, this partnership creates space for students to better understand the human side of policy. Our team is committed to making this experience meaningful for the students involved, for our staff, and most importantly, for the communities we serve.
What the Course Covers
The students joining us this semester are enrolled in: American Foreign Policy, a service-learning course designed to help them understand the goals, principles, and outcomes of U.S. foreign policy. The course combines classroom lectures with hands-on community involvement. Students are expected to volunteer 15 hours with a partner organization and reflect on how what they’re learning in class connects with what they see in the field.
Throughout the semester, students will study the ways the United States engages with the world diplomatically, economically, militarily, and through humanitarian channels. They’ll explore current foreign policy issues, historical milestones, and the many domestic factors that influence decisions made in Washington. They’ll also be asked to examine the long-term impact of U.S. actions abroad and the ethical questions that come with shaping global relationships.
The course is built around real-world engagement. That’s where we come in.
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What Students Will Do at Our Firm
Students who are matched with our firm will have a chance to see how immigration policy plays out. Whether it’s asylum, humanitarian parole, family-based petitions, or removal defense, the work we do is often shaped by global events, international conflict, and U.S. foreign policy shifts.
While each student’s experience may vary depending on scheduling and availability, here’s what they can generally expect:
- Assisting with background research on country conditions or U.S. immigration policy
- Supporting administrative tasks that contribute to client casework
- Learning how foreign policy decisions can influence client eligibility and outcomes
- Sitting in on team discussions (as appropriate)
- Reflecting on the legal process through structured weekly journal entries
- Contributing to firm projects that align with the semester’s themes
We keep expectations reasonable. These students are not interns or employees, but learners. Our goal is to offer exposure and to create an environment where questions are encouraged, and learning is a two-way street.
Why This Partnership Matters
For us, this partnership with Sacred Heart is not just about giving back, it’s about investing in education, building trust with the community, and helping future policy professionals understand the legal system through a local lens.
Immigration law doesn’t exist in a vacuum. It’s shaped by presidential actions, international diplomacy, economic policies, and humanitarian concerns. When students visit our office, they start to see how foreign policy touches people’s lives in deeply personal ways. They also learn how advocacy, legal guidance, and access to justice can make a real difference for families facing immigration uncertainty.
These lessons can’t be taught in a textbook alone. Seeing it unfold in practice adds something valuable to their academic experience.
What We’ve Seen So Far
Our first semester with Sacred Heart University took place in Spring 2025, and it was a rewarding experience on all sides. The students who worked with us came in prepared, respectful, and curious. They asked great questions, followed through on assignments, and showed a genuine interest in understanding how our immigration system functions in real life.
It was also a great experience for our team. Welcoming students into the office gave us an opportunity to share what we do in a more educational setting. We were able to slow down, explain legal processes, and think about our work from a teaching perspective. That kind of reflection benefits everyone.
Given how well that semester went, we were happy to accept Professor O’Gara’s invitation to continue as a partner for Fall 2025.
We’re proud to work with Sacred Heart University in building those bridges between education and public service.
About Our Firm
The Law Offices of James A. Welcome is a Connecticut-based immigration and personal injury law firm serving clients in Waterbury, Norwalk, Danbury, Hartford, Bridgeport, West Haven, and surrounding areas. With over 20 years of experience, we’re committed to providing trusted legal guidance to immigrants, workers, and families across the state.
To learn more about our firm or this partnership, please contact us at (203) 753-7300 or visit www.welcomelawfirm.com.
