Immigration Law Essentials for Virginia Practitioners

"This book serves as a resource for new immigration lawyers and other-discipline practitioners. Due to the ever-changing and extraordinarily complex nature of immigration law, it is meant to give a high-level perspective of immigration law to assist in issue-spotting and basic guidance. And, while current at the time of publication, certain aspects of immigration law may change under the Biden Administration, while leaving the basic structure of the Immigration and Nationality Act in place." - Lisa Shea, author

Immigration Law Essentials for Virginia Practitioners is an essential reference guide for attorneys whose practice does not focus on immigration but who nevertheless need to understand how immigration laws may affect their clients. Immigration law is complex, highly technical, subject to frequent changes, and frequently misunderstood by members of the general public. Because a client’s immigration status can affect many other legal issues, the need for such guidance has never been greater.

Importantly, this book provides a comprehensive overview of immigration law consequences, allowing attorneys to quickly identify issues so they can protect their clients’ rights while deciding whether a referral to an immigration law specialist should be made. Grounds of inadmissibility and deportability are considered, along with detention, removal proceedings, and waivers.

The discussion of nonimmigrant visas and other temporary statuses will be of value to attorneys working with these clients, and the chapters on obtaining permanent resident status and naturalization provide practical information that will help attorneys counsel clients who wish to become U.S. citizens. Additional coverage focuses on legal issues that affect nonimmigrants working in the United States including employer sanctions and unfair employment practices.

This edition is up to date with current case law and legislative updates through December 2020. The 2021 edition also adds new chapters with discussions that cover asylum, withholding of removal, and protection under the United Nations Convention Against Torture. The appendices include a brief glossary of terms and a list of agency contact information.

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Virginia Law and Practice: A Handbook for Attorneys	The Virginia Lawyer: A Deskbook for Practitioners	Employment Law in Virginia	Virginia Employment Practices and Forms	Defending Criminal Cases in Virginia

 

Lisa Shea

Lisa Shea (formerly Lisa Johnson-Firth) is the founder and managing partner of Immigrants First, PLLC, an immigration and human rights law firm located in Manassas, Virginia. She has been practicing immigration law for more than seventeen years and is a former adjunct professor of immigration law at Georgetown University Law Center and George Mason University. Ms. Shea presents widely on immigration, civil and human rights issues, and constitutional law to judges, lawyers, the law enforcement community, the immigrant community, and the public at large. She has served on the board of two immigration-related nonprofits: the Centreville Immigration Forum and Labor Resource Center, and BEACON, which is an ESL program run by the Benedictine Sisters of Virginia in Bristow. Ms. Shea won the Virginia Women Attorneys Association Justicia Award in 2015 for her work on women’s human rights issues. Prior to focusing her practice on immigration law, she practiced international corporate and intellectual property law. She graduated from Northeastern University School of Law with a J.D., the University of Sheffield School of Law with an LL.B., and Allegheny College with a B.A..

Immigration Law Essentials for Virginia Practitioners