The Immigratin Law Job Market
Employment opportunities in LA for immigrants and naturalized citizens can be found at a variety of levels, from an entry level immigration law clerk, paralegal or immigration assistant to an advanced immigration attorney or colleague. L.A. immigration jobs are found at global law firms, governmental agencies, NGOs, immigration offices, consulate’s and embassies. Immigration law has become a highly complex and technical area of the law and attorneys working abroad increasingly interact with non-legal disciplines of commerce, law, international relations, public policy, human rights and public health . Attorneys in this field are often in contact with representatives of other governments and work with lawyers practicing in numerous other countries. There is great demand for attorneys specializing in this area of the law and immigration jobs have a high salary range. This is not an area of practice that allows you to move up in level without experience, the immigration attorney position is fairly high level and requires an understanding of local laws, regulations and policies, international law and general immigration procedures.
The Top Employers in Immigration Law
The landscape of immigration law firms and employers is diverse in Los Angeles. Among the biggest immigration law players in LA are international companies like Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy LLP and Deloitte. There are also a number of boutique immigration firms, such as Law Offices of Brian D. Lerner, A Professional Corporation, The Anidjar Law Corporation, and Immigration Attorneys Tyler H. West, Joseph K. Zeidan and Jeremy Wu. Big companies that have large immigration law divisions are also prominent, including Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP, Jackson Lewis P.C., Bonal International, Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy LLP and ProLink Solutions, LLC. In addition to these firms, prominent legal service organizations that focus on helping immigrants also have an extensive presence in Los Angeles. It should come as no surprise, then, that many of the top employers listed for the practice area on PracticingLawyer.com are not necessarily law firms, but rather immigration companies. Highly rated employers linked to the practice area on the website include Deloitte Consulting, Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy LLP, International Business Solutions, Jackson Lewis LLP, and Morningside Transnational. Employers on PracticingLawyer.com are rated based on factors including communication, people, workload, ethics, compensation and quality of life, so these employers must have good reputations across a number of factors.
The Skills and Qualifications Required
Like many other areas of the law, a career in immigration law typically requires a legal degree and passing the bar exam. However, depending on the field of immigration law in which they wish to work, additional non-legal credentials may be required. For example, federal law enforcement agencies dealing with fraud or border security need candidates with criminal justice backgrounds. Children service and advocacy organizations require staff with knowledge of immigration and child welfare law and policy. Advocacy organizations may also require experience with lobbying and public policy development.
Immigration law differs from other fields of law in that long before they sit for the bar, many immigration law practitioners have experience with various types of client interactions related to immigration. In addition to traditional internships with law firms and courts, many immigration law practitioners started their career by doing volunteer work, often in the form of translation or community organizing. In fact, many immigration law practitioners came to the field after experiencing immigration issues themselves. Immigration lawyers are needed in all areas of law. Many volunteer and pro bono opportunities are available for administrative practice. In those situations, specialized training is provided. Mental health and social workers, child welfare specialists, and therapists are often used by immigration attorneys. Language is also incredibly important. Immigration clients range from those speaking only indigenous languages to sophisticated individuals with a high level of education and fluency in English. This affects the range of lexicon, idioms, and cultural references used, particularly in more nuanced areas of law such as asylum, visa applications, and naturalization. Analytical skills are important for evaluating the consequences of inadmissibility and deportability. The ability to perform legal research and find proper interpretations of case law and statutes is also important. Strong writing and communication skills are crucial for applications, briefs, court documents, and communication with clients. Immigrants are one of the fastest growing segments of most U.S. metropolitan areas and this trend is expected to continue.
Professional Networking and Organizations
Building a career in immigration law isn’t just about the legal skills. It’s also about who you know. Thus, networking and joining professional associations should be a top priority for any aspiring immigration law professional or lawyer in the Los Angeles area.
The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) is the primary professional organization for immigration lawyers in the United States. With more than 15,000 members, it provides resources, information, and networking opportunities for immigration professionals at all levels and in all areas of the profession, including the nonprofit sector, private practice, academia and business immigration.
In Los Angeles, AILA’s Southern California chapter regularly collaborates with the National Hispanic Bar Association, the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association and other organizations to host regular events and training sessions.
For example, on Nov. 7, AILA-Southern California is hosting its annual immigration law conference at the Normandy Club in San Pedro. The conference will feature numerous Southern California immigration lawyers discussing advanced topics such as adjustments of status , DACA, consular processing, national security and more.
Immigration professionals should also look for events and networking opportunities with the non-legal immigration services community. Los Angeles is home to many nonprofits and community-based organizations that provide direct services to immigrants and refugees.
Professional and legal professionals should look for opportunities to collaborate with these groups on legal clinics, know-your-rights presentations and other outreach events. Organizations such as the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (CHIRLA), the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (CHIRLA), Korean Resource Center (KRC) and the Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC) also provide legal training and seminars for immigration lawyers.
Finally, legal professionals should not overlook opportunities to seek out networking opportunities with other practitioners. Legal networking groups such as LexNexis and Meetup.com provide access to regular legal networking events in the Los Angeles, Westlake Village, Woodland Hills and downtown Los Angeles communities.
Income and Advancement
In Los Angeles, the typical salary range across all roles is typically $70,000 to $120,000 annually. That said, the specific salary for immigration law positions varies based on the level of seniority and the specific role. Senior Attorneys – Los Angeles immigration lawyers with a decade or more of experience, can expect to receive salaries above $100,000 annually, and may be offered profit sharing options. Partners in particular enjoy high salaries as well as clear routes of progression, such as becoming managing partners. Immigration firms value attorneys who are globally minded and who wish to build a practice around their area of specialization, such as obtaining outstanding researcher status or successfully winning cases in the Supreme Court. They also value immigration attorneys who have an innate understanding of the evolving immigration landscape, including changes to H-1B visas, the Diversity Visa lottery, asylum, temporary protection, and undocumented immigrant pathways to citizenship. These areas are likely to see attorney salaries increase as demand rises. Less experienced attorneys can expect to earn base salaries in the range of $55,000 to $85,000, depending on their employer and naturalization focus. Employers hiring less experienced immigration law professionals may offer a varied benefits package, which may include health and dental plans, paid holidays, and retirement savings plans. The demand for immigration attorneys is expected to rise due to the complex nature of U.S. immigration law and the evolving conditions across the U.S. and the world at large. Immigration assistants in Los Angeles typically earn a salary between $26,000 and $50,000, while administrators can expect to earn within the same range. Immigration assistants and administrators also enjoy a great deal of on-the-job training, allowing them to gain valuable experience and build specialized skills related to visa applications, naturalization processes, asylum applications, deportation defense, and green card applications. Employees working in immigration law may enjoy clear professional development pathways, moving into progressively senior roles, such as those of an immigration analyst, attorney, or partner. Depending on the nature of the firm, employees may also be able to develop their management skills and take on key administrative roles within the firm, such as becoming an office manager, managing partner, or deputy administrator. Immigration lawyers and administrative professionals specializing in this field of law often work closely with non-attorney staff, including paralegals, legal assistants, and administrative staff.
How to Land a Job in Immigration Law
Landing a position in Los Angeles’ competitive and high-earning immigration law sector can be challenging. The key is ensuring that you have the right skills and background, and that you’re applying to the right positions. To get your foot in the door, consider these strategies.
Create a Resume and Cover Letter That Vividly Illustrate Your Capabilities
While drafting a resume may sound simple, it is your tool for creating positive first impressions on potential employers. Resumes should be clear, concise, and 100% free of grammatical errors. An employer may see one or two minor mistakes, but anything more is considered careless. Along with demonstrating perfect grammar, a resume for an immigration law position should also emphasize your language and writing skills because so much of this work requires extensive reading and writing. Don’t just detail the types of legal work you did in a previous position. Be as specific as possible, stating what you did, where you did it, who you worked with, and how your work helped the employer.
Interviews and Networking
Soft skills like confidence and professionalism play an important role in securing an immigration law position. For this reason, employers will often place a heavy focus on your demeanor , essentially assessing whether you would be a good fit for the firm. These soft skills will not just come to light in interviews, however – they should be evident in all of your professional interactions, whether with the hiring manager, the hiring manager’s associates, or with current employees at the firm. It’s also important that you conduct in-person visits and informational interviews with other immigration law firms to meet with current employees. As with an actual job interview, dress appropriately and have questions prepared ahead of time. This shows professional interest and commitment to your career path. Don’t overextend the visit by asking too many questions or overstaying your welcome, and of course, don’t forget to send a thank you email or card after you leave.
Gain Relevant Experience Through Internships, Volunteer Work, and Pro Bono Programs
Among the most common ways for an experienced attorney to obtain a new position in immigration law is by volunteering for comprehensive immigration processing programs that serve the needy in the community. There are many such programs in Los Angeles, including the Humanitarian Immigration Law Project, which provides legal representation for detained and non-detained adult immigrants, as well as the Central American Refugee Committee, which provides assistance to Central Americans.