Updated by Paul Hellyer
June 2007
BOOKS & NARRATIVES
Careers in Law (3rd ed.), Gary A. Munneke, Chicago: VGM Career Books, 2004.
Chapter 18 of this book includes an introduction to careers in immigration law.
OCS KF297 .M86 2004
Ethics in a Brave New World: Professional Responsibility, Personal Accountability, and Risk Management for Immigration Practitioners, Washington, DC: American Immigration Lawyers Assoc., 2004.
This book includes general tips on how to have a successful and fulfilling career in this field of law.
KF306 .E843 2004
Handling Immigration Cases (2nd ed.), Bill Ong Hing, New York: John Wiley & Sons, 1995.
Chapter One of this treatise provides an introduction to this career field, with descriptions of the work immigration lawyers do, their professional organizations, the clients they represent, and the terminology used in their field.
KF4819 .H5 1995
Lawyers and Immigrants, 1870-1940: A Cultural History, Louis Anthes, Levittown, NY: LFB Scholarly Publishing , 2003.
Those interested in the history of this profession may enjoy this book, which discusses work done by lawyers on behalf of immigrants in and around New York City from 1870 to 1940.
KF311 .A965 2003
The Stanford Law Chronicles, Alfredo Mirandé, Notre Dame, IN: Univ. of Notre Dame Press, 2005.
The author describes his experiences in law school, including time spent working in an immigration law clinic where he represented his first client.
KF373 .M567 A3 2005
GUIDES & DIRECTORIES
Immigration Detainee Defense Initiative Directory: Opportunities for Law Students to Work Justice in the Lives of Detained Immigrants and Refugees, American Bar Association Commission on Immigration et al., 2003.
Has listings for organizations that provide internships for law students in the field of immigration law. Listings include information on the work involved, pay or benefits (if any), and the application process.
OCS KF337 .I45 I45 2003
ARTICLES
Susan N. Burgess, Developing and Marketing a Solo Immigration Practice, Immigration Briefings, Sept. 2005, at 1.
A solo immigration lawyer gives advice on how to have a successful solo immigration practice.
Mark Curriden, Run for the Border, Bender’s Immigration Bulletin, January 15, 2003, at 1.
This article describes ProBAR, a pro bono asylum project, and the experiences of several law students who have participated in it.
Sophie Feal, Tales From Immigration Practice: Perspective, Bender’s Immigration Bulletin, May 1, 2007, at 4.
An immigration lawyer describes some of the immigrants she has represented over the years and the difficulties they faced.
Jennifer Fried, No Green in Green Cards: In Immigration Practice, Hours Spent Don’t Always Translate Into Money Earned, New Jersey Law Journal, May 12, 2003, at 33.
This article discusses some of the economic challenges faced by immigration lawyers.
Galia Avramov, Myra MacIsaac & Michele Polito, Going Global: As Businesses Reach Across National Borders, Immigration Lawyers and Legal Assistants Become Critical to Their Success, 80 Mich. Bar J. 46 (2001).
This article links the increase in international business to an increase in demand for immigration lawyers and explains how this new demand is changing the role of immigration lawyers.
Jennifer Barnes, The Lawyer-Client Relationship in Immigration Law, 52 Emory Law Journal 1215 (2003).
The author discusses the needs of immigration clients and the skills necessary to be a successful immigration lawyer.
Margaret D. Stock, The Road Less Traveled: Becoming an Immigration Attorney, 27 Harvard Women’s Law Journal 387 (2004).
An immigration lawyer explains how she first became interested in immigration law and describes some of her more memorable cases.
PERIODICALS
Bender’s Immigration Bulletin
Newark: Matthew Bender & Co.
Lexis: IMMIG;IMMBUL
Immigration Briefings
Eagan, MN: Thomson/West
Westlaw: IMMIGRBRIEF
Immigration Daily
New York: ILW.COM, American Immigration LLC
On the Web at: http://www.ilw.com/immigdaily/
Immigration Monthly
New York: ILW.COM, American Immigration LLC
On the Web at: http://www.ilw.com/monthly/
ORGANIZATIONS
ABA Commission on Immigration
740 15th Street NW, 9th Floor
Washington, DC 20005-1022
tel: (202) 662-1005
fax: (202) 638-3844
e-mail: immcenter@staff.abanet.org
website: http://www.abanet.org/publicserv/immigration/home.html
The Commission provides education and information about immigration law and develops and assists pro bono programs. Their website includes a guide to pro bono opporunities and information about the Commission’s own internship program.
American Immigration Lawyers Association
918 F Street NW
Washington, DC 20004-1400
tel: (202) 216-2400
fax: (202) 783-7853
website: http://www.aila.org/
AILA is a national association of over 10,000 lawyers and professors who work in the field of immigration law. The association includes 35 local chapters. AILA’s website includes a career page where you can post your resume and review job opportunities.
National Immigration Project of the National Lawyers Guild
14 Beacon Street, Ste. 602
Boston, MA 02108
tel: (617) 227-9727
fax: (617) 227-5495
website: http://www.nationalimmigrationproject.org
The National Immigration Project is a progressive legal support group that focuses on immigrant rights. Their website includes a separate page for law students with information about internship opportunities. This group also sponsors a listserv for law students on immigration law.
Other organizations may be found using:
Encyclopedia of Associations: National Organizations of the United States, Detroit, MI: Gale Research Co., 1961-
Comprehensive listing of national organizations and associations including those in the field of public interest law. Includes name, address and telephone number as well as other appropriate information concerning the organization. Excellent resource for locating information on an association.
Westlaw: EOA
