Catherine Motolenich Torres
Clarksburg
Summary
Training Specialist with 15+ years of experience across federal agencies, non-profit organizations, and private sector. Recognized for developing innovative legal curricula that significantly improved organizational efficiency. Expert in quality assurance frameworks and specialized training methodologies that enhance decision-making across complex legal matters. Seeking to leverage expertise in legal education and program management to drive excellence in professional development.
Overview
15
15
years of professional experience
Work History
Training Officer
USCIS, International and Refugee Affairs Division
12.2019 - Current
- Designed instructional curriculum on complex immigration law using a variety of adult learning methodologies.
- Developed legal writing frameworks based on federal immigration precedent decisions, creating standardized templates and manuals.
- Implemented training needs analysis for legal knowledge gaps, using case law examples and statutory interpretation exercises as learning tools.
- Facilitated advanced legal training on case analysis methods, combining coaching with practical applications of law and procedural requirements.
- Collaborated with the Office of Chief Counsel to develop legally accurate training materials on evolving immigration jurisprudence and policy developments.
- Established quality assurance benchmarks for legal documentation that aligned with federal court standards and administrative review requirements.
- Designed mentoring programs focused on legal reasoning skills and statutory interpretation methods for immigration officers handling complex cases.
- Conducted legal sufficiency reviews of humanitarian based decisions, providing constructive feedback on legal analysis and evidentiary assessment methodology.
- Authored comprehensive legal writing guidelines that addressed common legal errors and strengthened regulatory compliance in decision drafting.
Program Manager
USCIS, Refugee Asylum and International Operation
02.2019 - 12.2019
- Managed training initiatives for asylum processing operations, ensuring compliance with rapidly evolving immigration law and policy.
- Administered program resources for legal skills development, balancing training needs with operational demands in high-volume adjudication environments.
- Led team of specialists through procedural changes, implementing legal performance standards while maintaining quality control.
- Redesigned processing workflows for asylum cases, incorporating legal safeguards and procedural fairness mechanisms throughout.
- Developed competency-based training on statutory requirements, legal sufficiency standards, and evidentiary assessment.
- Implemented case management system for tracking legally significant milestones in asylum adjudication, ensuring due process compliance.
- Fostered partnerships with government agencies to address legal and logistical complexities in asylum workflow.
- Designed quality review processes for legally significant decisions, creating feedback mechanisms to address statutory interpretation challenges.
Supervisory Asylum Officer
USCIS, Arlington Asylum Offices
10.2017 - 02.2019
- Served as legal subject matter expert on immigration regulations, including particularly complex issues of asylum eligibility and credible fear standards.
- Implemented legal review structure for asylum decisions, establishing legal sufficiency checkpoints and precedent-based evaluation criteria.
- Launched legal mentoring program focusing on statutory analysis and case law application in the context of humanitarian protection claims.
- Created performance metrics for legal decision quality, tracking adherence relevant statutes and regulations.
- Collaborated with policy specialists to develop training on emerging legal trends in asylum law, including particular social group jurisprudence.
- Conducted trauma-informed interviews while maintaining legal rigor in credibility assessment and nexus determination for asylum claims.
- Authored legally sound decisions applying complex country conditions research and addressing multifaceted legal theories of persecution.
- Trained officers in legal questioning techniques that elicit legally relevant testimony while remaining sensitive to trauma impacts.
- Supervised a large team of new asylum officers.
Immigration Legal Services Program Director
Catholic Charties
06.2015 - 10.2017
- Directed legal services program handling complex immigration matters while developing attorney training protocols on humanitarian relief.
- Managed and mentored team of six associate attorneys focused on immigration diverse caseload including T visas, U visas, VAWA self-petitions, and asylum applications.
- Developed strategic initiatives with legal stakeholders, securing funding for expanded legal representation for trafficking survivors.
- Created case outcome tracking systems to identify patterns in adjudication and develop targeted legal strategies for challenging cases.
- Delivered advanced legal training on identifying trafficking survivors and documenting legal elements required for immigration relief.
- Designed attorney performance assessments measuring legal advocacy effectiveness and procedural compliance in immigration representation.
- Implemented legal writing improvement system focusing on persuasive argumentation and effectively distinguishing adverse precedent.
Attorney
Ayuda Law Firm
01.2010 - 06.2015
- Represented clients in complex immigration proceedings before USCIS, Immigration Courts, and Board of Immigration Appeals, achieving favorable outcomes.
- Prepared comprehensive applications a variety of immigration defense cases, addressing complex legal eligibility issues.
- Developed effective legal strategies for removal defense incorporating cancellation of removal, asylum, withholding, and CAT protections.
- Provided expert legal counsel on admissibility waivers, criminal immigration consequences, and available forms of humanitarian relief.
- Established relationships with legal advocates across organizations, creating effective referral networks for comprehensive client services.
- Conducted settlement negotiations with government counsel to achieve favorable case resolutions for clients facing removal.
- Created pathways to naturalization for clients with complex immigration histories, addressing good moral character challenges and continuous residence issues.
- Implemented thorough case documentation system ensuring adherence to filing deadlines and preserving issues for potential appellate review.
Education
Bachelor of Arts - English Literature
University of Puerto Rico
Mayaguez, PR J.D. -
Roger Williams School of Law
Bristol, RISkills
- Legal Writing Curriculum Development
- Adult Learning Curriculum Development
- Instructional Systems Design (ISD)
- Needs Analysis & Gap Assessment
- Blended Learning Design
- Quality Assurance Frameworks
- Performance Metrics Development
- Training Materials Development
- Training Program Administration
- Stakeholder Engagement
- Microlearning Development
- Knowledge Retention Strategies
Timeline
Training Officer
USCIS, International and Refugee Affairs Division
12.2019 - Current
Program Manager
USCIS, Refugee Asylum and International Operation
02.2019 - 12.2019
Supervisory Asylum Officer
USCIS, Arlington Asylum Offices
10.2017 - 02.2019
Immigration Legal Services Program Director
Catholic Charties
06.2015 - 10.2017
Attorney
Ayuda Law Firm
01.2010 - 06.2015
Bachelor of Arts - English Literature
University of Puerto Rico
J.D. -
Roger Williams School of Law
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