Torchora
Back to Home

Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Immigration Lawyer

💰 $85,000 - $175,000+

LegalImmigration LawCorporate LawLegal Services

🎯 Role Definition

An Immigration Lawyer serves as a critical advisor and advocate, navigating the complex and ever-changing landscape of U.S. immigration law. This role is fundamentally about helping people and organizations achieve their goals, whether that's reuniting a family, securing top global talent for a company, or providing a safe haven for those fleeing persecution. Success in this field requires not just deep legal knowledge, but also a genuine commitment to client service, meticulous attention to detail, and the resilience to handle high-stakes, time-sensitive cases. You'll be the expert who translates confusing regulations into clear, actionable strategies, making a direct and profound impact on the lives and success of your clients.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Juris Doctor (J.D.) Graduate / Law Clerk
  • Immigration Paralegal
  • Legal Assistant with immigration focus

Advancement To:

  • Senior Immigration Attorney / Counsel
  • Partner (in a law firm)
  • In-House Global Mobility & Immigration Counsel
  • Government Attorney (USCIS, ICE, DOL)

Lateral Moves:

  • Human Resources (Global Mobility Specialist)
  • Non-Profit Policy Advisor
  • University International Student Advisor

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Provide strategic counsel to individual and corporate clients on available immigration options, developing clear, long-term immigration strategies and roadmaps.
  • Manage the end-to-end preparation and filing of a high volume of employment-based nonimmigrant petitions, including H-1B, L-1A/L-1B, O-1, TN, and E-3 visas.
  • Direct the entire PERM labor certification process from initiation, including prevailing wage determinations, recruitment, and application drafting, ensuring absolute compliance with DOL regulations.
  • Handle a wide array of employment-based immigrant petitions, such as I-140s across EB-1, EB-2, and EB-3 categories, including National Interest Waivers (NIW).
  • Represent clients in family-based immigration matters, preparing and filing I-130 petitions, I-485 adjustment of status applications, and consular processing cases.
  • Prepare and zealously advocate for clients in humanitarian-based cases, including asylum, withholding of removal, U-Visas, T-Visas, and VAWA self-petitions.
  • Draft sophisticated and compelling legal arguments in response to complex Requests for Evidence (RFEs), Notices of Intent to Deny (NOIDs), and audit requests from government agencies.
  • Conduct comprehensive legal research on intricate questions of immigration law and nationality law, staying ahead of precedential case law and policy shifts.
  • Effectively represent clients in removal proceedings before Immigration Courts (EOIR), preparing and arguing motions, bonds, and applications for relief from deportation.
  • Thoroughly prepare clients for high-stakes interactions with government officials, including USCIS interviews for adjustment of status and naturalization, and visa interviews at U.S. Consulates.
  • Advise corporate human resources and legal departments on Form I-9 compliance, E-Verify procedures, and strategies for navigating LCA/H-1B and PERM-related government audits.
  • Manage a robust and deadline-driven caseload, utilizing case management systems to independently monitor case progress, track deadlines, and maintain meticulous records.
  • Prepare and file complex naturalization applications (N-400), proactively identifying and addressing potential issues related to residence, good moral character, or other eligibility factors.
  • File appeals and motions to reopen/reconsider with the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) and the Administrative Appeals Office (AAO).
  • Serve as the primary point of contact for clients, providing clear, empathetic, and regular communication to build trust and manage expectations throughout the long immigration process.

Secondary Functions

  • Mentor, train, and provide daily guidance to paralegals and junior legal staff, overseeing the quality of their work and fostering their professional development.
  • Engage in client development and outreach activities, including leading webinars, writing articles for publication, and speaking at conferences to enhance firm visibility.
  • Continuously monitor and analyze changes in immigration statutes, regulations, and agency policy memoranda to advise the firm and its clients on potential impacts.
  • Collaborate closely with corporate, tax, and employment law attorneys to provide holistic and integrated legal advice to business clients.
  • Maintain detailed and accurate billing records and participate in the review of invoices to ensure transparency and client satisfaction with billing practices.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Demonstrated expertise in business immigration law, including nonimmigrant (H-1B, L-1, O-1) and immigrant (PERM, I-140, NIW) visa categories.
  • Proven experience with family-based immigration, adjustment of status, consular processing, and naturalization cases.
  • Proficiency in legal research platforms such as Westlaw, LexisNexis, and AILA resources.
  • Hands-on experience with immigration case management software (e.g., INSZoom, Tracker, LawLogix, Clio).
  • Experience in removal defense, including appearing before Immigration Courts and filing briefs with the BIA.
  • Exceptional legal writing skills, with the ability to draft persuasive briefs, motions, and support letters.

Soft Skills

  • Impeccable attention to detail and superior organizational skills to manage complex, multi-stage cases.
  • Excellent client-facing communication skills, with the ability to explain complex legal issues with clarity, empathy, and cultural sensitivity.
  • High level of resilience and composure, with the ability to work effectively under pressure and manage competing deadlines.
  • Strong analytical and critical thinking skills to devise creative solutions for complex legal problems.
  • Ability to work both independently and collaboratively within a team-oriented environment.
  • Unwavering professional ethics and a strong sense of personal accountability.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from an American Bar Association (ABA) accredited law school and an active bar license in good standing in at least one U.S. state.

Preferred Education:

An LL.M. degree with a specialization in Immigration and Nationality Law.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Law
  • International Studies
  • Political Science

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 3-8 years of post-bar experience focused exclusively on immigration law.

Preferred: Prior experience working in a high-volume, reputable immigration law firm, a corporate legal department's global mobility team, or a non-profit organization focused on immigration advocacy.

Explore More Careers