Biography

Alissa Cooley is the managing attorney for the UNLV Immigration Clinic, a Boyd School of Law community resource that provides free assistance with DACA renewals, deportations, unaccompanied children, and related issues.

After graduating cum laude from UNLV's law school in 2014, Cooley became one of the first two justice AmeriCorps fellows at the Thomas & Mack Legal Clinic, effectively jumpstarting the growth of the UNLV Immigration Clinic as a legal aid provider. She spent two years representing and securing asylum, special immigrant juvenile visas, and residency for more than 100 unaccompanied children and teens in immigration court proceedings. 

From 2016 to 2021, Cooley went into private practice, primarily focusing on immigration cases including family-based petitions, Violence Against Women Act, non-immigrant U and T visas, Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS), residency, naturalization, removal defense, and asylum. The native Nevadan — who also assisted clients with appeals, record sealing, and family law — has helped shape state law regarding SIJS in two published Nevada appellate decisions.  

After co-teaching UNLV’s Policing and Protest Clinic in 2021, Cooley returned to Boyd full-time to lead the Immigration Clinic's Community Advocacy Office in downtown Las Vegas.

She is a member of the Lt. Governor’s Keep Nevada Working Task Force. Cooley additionally volunteers with the Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada, Nevada Legal Services, City of Las Vegas, Somos Votantes, PLAN, Asian Community Development Council, and Al Otro Lado's Border Rights Project.