Temko, Stephen

Steven Klapisch was admitted to the bar in 1974. He received his bachelor's degree from Stony Brook University (magna cum laude) and his law degree from the University of Wisconsin. While at the University of Wisconsin he served as Associate Justice of the University Student Court. Mr. Klapisch worked as a trial attorney for the legacy Immigration and Naturalization Service for over ten years. Upon leaving government service he joined the firm of Weisberg and Friedman and became a partner in 1990 when the firm was renamed Weisberg, Friedman & Klapisch.

Mr. Klapisch is active in the American Immigration Lawyers Association. He has served on many committees since becoming a member. He has been on the Liaison Committee with the Immigration Court and with the Office of Chief Counsel of the Department of Homeland Security. He has been the Chair and the Co-Chair of this committee. He also presently serves on the Liaison Committee with the Asylum Offices. He has also served on the ICE Liaison Committee. He also served on the National Liaison Committee with the Executive Office for Immigration Review and the Board of Immigration Appeals. He also served on the National Family Immigration Committee. Mr. Klapisch was appointed chair of the National "FIX 96" Committee. He served on the AILA National Amicus Committee. He has been on the program committee for the AILA 1999 Spring Conference, the 1999 AILA New York Chapter Immigration Law Seminar, and the 2000 AILA New York Chapter Immigration Law Seminar. He has also been an Associate Editor of the National Conference Handbook. He has been the Editor of the New York Chapter Conference Handbook for three years. Mr. Klapisch previously served on the Editorial Advisory Board of AILA's Immigration Law Today.

Mr. Klapisch was also a member of the Second Circuit Court of Appeals Committee on Gender Discrimination. This Committee prepared a report on gender discrimination.

Mr. Klapisch has been a member of the Immigration Committee of the Association of the Bar of the City of New York for two three year terms. This committee is very active in commenting on pending immigration legislation. Through this committee Mr. Klapisch served as a mentor for attorneys who are representing aliens on a pro bono basis and need the help of an experienced practitioner.

Mr. Klapisch was qualified as an expert witness in the field of immigration in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York during a criminal trial for a person being charged with Illegal Re-entry after Deportation.

Mr. Klapisch specializes in all areas of immigration and nationality law. Mr. Klapisch also participated for several years in the Refugee Assistance Pro Bono Training program which is offered to attorneys who want to learn how to prepare applications for political asylum. Mr. Klapisch has lectured in Spanish for the Appearance Assistance Program of the Vera Institute of Justice. He is fluent in Spanish and French.

Mr. Klapisch has been very active in gay civil rights immigration work. He was the first attorney to get waivers for people with HIV during the legalization program. Mr. Klapisch has been an active member of Immigration Equality. He was the Vice-President of the organization and was on the Board of Directors.

In 2008 Mr. Klapisch became a member of the UJA-Federation of New York Task Force on Immigration Policy.

In 2009 Mr. Klapisch began working as a Mentor with NYC Know Your Rights Project which interviews detainees at the Varick Detention Center. Mr. Klapisch advises the pro bono attorneys who are interviewing the detainees.