Previous Events & CLE Programs
April 29, 2008
Committee Meeting
Immigration Judges Panel: Presenting Your Case in Immigration Court
Sponsors
Immigration Law Committee
New Lawyers Section
Criminal Law Section
Please join a panel discussion of court practice and procedure: Presenting your Adjustment and Cancellation cases. Topics will include elements of the case (direct, cross, experts, establishing a foundation) as well as procedure for putting on evidence. This meeting is particularly timely as the Immigration Court Practice Manual, effective April 1, 2008, will replace local court rules.
Panelists:
Leonard I Shapiro
Immigration Judge
Matthew D'Angelo
Immigration Judge
Robert Halpin
Immigration Court Clerk
Moderators:
Howard Silverman
Ross, Silverman & Levy LLP
Brian T. O'Neill, Sr.
O'Neill Law Offices
March 27, 2008
Committee Meeting
Form I-864 Affidavits of Support
Sponsors
Immigration Law Committee
New Lawyers Section
Estelle Regolsky, Avrin & Regolsky, will discuss Form I-864 Affidavit of Support in Family Immigration Cases, including new Poverty Guidelines effective March 2008.
Please also join the following discussions:
- Case Problem Roundtable: members are asked to bring an issue they have been dealing with in their cases for the committee to discuss in an effort to find solutions, and
- Open Forum, Steering Committee: the committee seeks guidance from those attending on future meeting topics and to get a sense of whether the current meeting time and formats are working for you, and whether you wish to suggest any changes.
March 26, 2008
Committee Meeting
Congressman Capuano to Discuss Prospects for Immigration Reform
Congressman Michael Capuano will share his thoughts on the prospects for immigration legislation in Washington. Join us for the opportunity to ask him what are the dynamics for change given concerns for labor protection, the concerns of the Hispanic caucus for a piecemeal approach, and the toxic environment created by immigration opponents.
March 19, 2008
Committee Meeting
ICE: The Integration of Criminal and Immigration Law
Sponsors
Immigration Law Committee
Criminal Law Section
Join us for a panel discussion, followed by a free reception, focused on the integration of Criminal and Immigration Law when dealing with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). In recent years, ICE has placed an increased emphasis on ensuring compliance with U.S. Immigration laws through its use of criminal enforcement tools. This program will provide federal and state criminal practitioners with an understanding of ICE's components parts, offer guidance on how to navigate their way through ICE, discuss common legal issues arising from ICE criminal enforcement actions, and provide specific and useful practice tips for representing federal and state defendants facing immigration issues.
Rick Neville, Deputy Chief Counsel, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Nadine Pellegrini, Assistant U.S. Attorney, will discuss:
- Navigating and working with ICE;
- Legal Issues Arising from Worksite and other ICE Enforcement Actions and;
- ICE Current Enforcement Initiatives.
Immigration practitioners Paul Glickman, Glickman Turley LLP, and Jerry Friedman from Kaplan, O’Sullivan & Friedman, LLP will discuss:
- Immigration consequences of criminal dispositions and;
- Issues to consider for motions to vacate convictions
.
February 28, 2008
Committee Meeting
Family Based Immigration
Join Jason A. Levy, Ross, Silverman & Levy LLP, to discuss family-based immigration issues. The focus will be on conducting intake with clients in the context of an application for permanent residence based on the marriage of a foreign national to a U.S. citizen, and the fleshing out of potentially problematic issues. ;We will also discuss nuts and bolts relating to 212(i) fraud waivers and 245(i) considerations time permitting.
January 24, 2008
Committee Meeting
Immigration and Public Benefits
Cristina Dacchille, Equal Justice Works Fellow, Medical-Legal Partnership for Children, Boston Medical Center, will discuss when immigrants can qualify for benefits and the impact of receipt of benefits on immigration cases. Specific topics include:
- Overview of Immigration Eligibility for Public Benefits
- Focus on Immigration Eligibility for Health Coverage
- Public Charge: How Accessing Benefits Can Impact an Immigration Case
January 15, 2008
Committee Meeting
Asylum Representation Training
Sponsors
New Lawyers Section
Immigration Law Committee
Join us as representatives of PAIR Project conduct a free training session. Materials will be included, and a reception will follow the program.
This program will be moderated by Claudia Gregoire, Glickman Turley LLP.
November 29, 2007
Committee Meeting
Securing Clinical Evidence for Your Client’s Immigration Case: Best Practices
Samantha Morton, Deputy Director, Medical-Legal Partnership for Children (MLPC), Boston Medical Center, will discuss the unique considerations and best practices to overcome challenges of communicating across the profession divide between lawyers and health care providers. Specifically, she will discuss obtaining medical evidence for:
- Medically-based visa extension applications
- Asylum and withholding of removal cases
- Domestic violence-based relief (VAWA, U visa interim relief, I-751s, etc.)
- Special Immigrant Juvenile Status petitions
- Adjustment cases (waivers)
- Naturalization proceedings (medical waivers supporting exemptions from English and civics tests)
- Medically-based motions/requests for continuances
October 25, 2007
Committee Meeting
Relief Under the Violence Against Women's Act & U Visas
Join us as we discuss:
- relief available to victims of domestic violence if there is a qualifying relationship and the batterer has legal status;
- relief available to victims of domestic violence or crimes if there is no qualifying relationship and/or the abuser does not have legal status in the U.S.;
- and barriers to immigrant victims of domestic violence and crime.
There will be time for questions and discussion.
September 27, 2007
Committee Meeting
Life After the DOL Backlog Center Closes and Life Without H Visas
Steve Clark of Flynn & Clark, P.C. and Edward White of Law Office of Edward White will discuss life after the DOL Backlog Center closes on September 30th as well as life without H visas. Specific topics will include:
- Processing Backlog Labor Certification Cases after 9/30
- The new PERM Labor Certification Application Form
- Work Visa Options other than H-1B: O's, E's and J's
May 10, 2007
Committee Meeting
What’s Next for H-1Bs, Case Problems and Future Meeting Topics
Sponsors
Immigration Law Committee
New Lawyers Section
Steven A. Clark of Flynn & Clark, P.C. will discuss what the options are for work visas until October 2008 when H-1B visas next become available. Members are asked to bring at least one problem case for discussion and any ideas for future meeting topics.
May 2, 2007
Committee Meeting
How to Work a Room
Sponsors
Solo & Small Firm Section
New Lawyers Section
Litigation Section
Immigration Law Committee
Please join attorney B.J. Krintzman for an expert lesson on "how to work a room" (or "the 37 things you need to know to network like a pro"). B.J. Krintzman has a solo general practice with offices in Newton and on Cape Cod, and frequently lectures on how to run a successful law practice. B.J.’s talk will be followed by a wine and hors d’oeuvres reception so attendees can put their new knowledge into practice right away.
April 12, 2007
Committee Meeting
Permanent Residence Options for Professors and Researchers
Sponsors
Immigration Law Committee
College & University Law Section
New Lawyers Section
Penny Rosser, Director of the International Scholars Office at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Steve Clark of Flynn & Clark, P.C., will discuss visa options for Professors and Researchers. Specifically, they will discuss the Outstanding Researcher and Professor employment-based preference category and Special Recruitment and Selection procedures for PERM Labor Certifications.
March 8, 2007
Committee Meeting
Service Center Liaisons Discuss Practice & Procedure
Sponsors
Immigration Law Committee
New Lawyers Section
Date and Time
Gerry Rovner, AILA Liaison to National Benefits Center/Missouri Service Center and Tony Drago, AILA Liaison to Texas Service Center, will present a workshop on service center practice, procedure and liaison.
February 15, 2007
Committee Meeting
Practice Specific Legal Research Programs: Immigration Law
Virginia Wise, Thayer Senior Lecturer in law for Legal Research, Harvard Law School will discuss legal research regarding Immigration Law.
Programs cost $25 per person/per session for members and $50 per person/per session for non-members
February 8, 2007
Committee Meeting
Roundtable Discussion with Prevailing Wage Specialists from DCS
Sponsors
Immigration Law Committee
New Lawyers Section
Labor & Employment Law Section
John Lalumiere and William Berke, Prevailing Wage Specialists for the Division of Career Services Commonwealth of Massachusetts will discuss:
- procedures to submit additional evidence or employer wage surveys
- the standards for reviewing whether a survey will be accepted
- how and when the employer’s requirements for experience, special skills, education, a foreign language, or supervisory duties will affect the wage level
Mr. Lalumiere and Mr. Berke determine prevailing wages for employers hiring foreign nationals under the H-1B, H-2B and Labor Certification Programs. You are invited to bring your questions, but priority will be given questions emailed in advance to Steve Clark, Immigration Committee Co-Chair, to sclark@flynnclark.com. Please use the subject heading: BBA PW.
January 11, 2007
Committee Meeting
Visa Options for Artists, Entertainers and Athletes
**This meeting is so-sponsored with the Arts, Entertainment &
Sports Law Committee, New Lawyers Section and Labor & Employment Law Section**
Eileen Morrison of Law Office of Eileen Morrison will discuss how immigration counsel help foreign artists, entertainers and athletes become certified to work in the United States. Since these professions do not generally work forty hour weeks and frequently work independently of an employer who might otherwise sponsor them, counsel often must seek tools beyond the customary labor certification and H-1B visa. Specifically, she will discuss:
- O-1s for the extraordinary
- Ps for the internationally recognized
- H-2B for the truly temporary gigs
- Schedule A Labor Certifications for Performing Artists
- Self-Sponsoring for permanent residence
December 14, 2006
Committee Meeting
Immigration Tax and Business Documents – Everything You Wanted to Know but Dared Not Ask
**This meeting is co-sponsored with the New Lawyers Section**
Steven Clark of Flynn & Clark, P.C. and Shiva Karimi of Karimi Law will explain what to watch out for when obtaining and analyzing birth, business and tax records required for family and business immigration applications. They will also entertain questions about cases you may be handling.
November 9, 2006
Committee Meeting
Update from the USICE Trial Attorneys
**This meeting is co-sponsored with the New Lawyers Section**
Rick Neville, Deputy Chief Counsel, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement will discuss removal procedures, relief available and recent trends in immigration litigation. He will also offer practice tips for attorneys appearing before the Immigration Court.
October 12, 2006
Committee Meeting
Crimes & Immigration
Michele M. Vakili, a partner at Vakili Karimi LLC, will discuss the immigration consequences of criminal matters. Ms. Vakili will provide an overview of how to analyze criminal matters for immigration purposes, and discuss possible avenues of relief.
September 19, 2006
Committee Meeting
H-1B Audits: DOL’s Perspective and Impact on Practice
**This meeting is co-sponsored with the Corporate Counsel Committee and Labor & Employment Law Section**
Patricia Slate, Regional Enforcement Coordinator of the Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division, will discuss the DOL’s procedures for H-1b audits.
Steven A. Clark, shareholder at Flynn & Clark, P.C. and Past President of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, will comment on the role of the attorney in the audit and the impact of audits on case preparation.
June 8, 2006
Committee Meeting
Taxation of Foreign Nationals
Kenneth A. Freshman and JoAnn M. Ferraro, of Freshman & Ferraro PC, will discuss the US taxation of foreign nationals, focusing particularly on executives and professional individuals. The program is designed to give immigration attorneys an overview of the US federal and state tax rules that apply to their clients working and residing in the US.
April 13, 2006
Committee Meeting
New Immigration Laws: What the Future May Be
In a dramatic turn of events, it appears that Congress has suddenly put Comprehensive Immigration Reform back on the table, with dramatic changes likely in almost all areas.
Join us for the latest summary of pending legislation, followed by a round-table discussion of how these laws are likely to impact our clients and our practices. Seasoned practitioners will offer their thoughts on changes and pitfalls we may expect, and suggestions as to what we need to watch for in anticipation of these changes.
January 12, 2006
Committee Meeting
Problem Case Open Forum
Please join us for a roundtable discussion on issues, cases and questions regarding immigration law. Three experienced immigration attorneys will lead the discussion.
Topics to be discussed:
- Business and employment related questions, either non-immigrant or immigrant
- Business and family questions
- Deportation and federal court questions
Speakers:
- Roy J. Watson, Jr., Co-Chair BBA Immigration Law Committee; Past Chair, New England Chapter, AILA
- Gerald C. Rovner, Past Chair, New England Chapter, AILA
- Anthony Drago, Jr., Secretary, New England Chapter, AILA
December 8, 2005
Committee Meeting
Federal Court Litigation
Shiva Karimi, Karimi & Associates, P.C. will discuss the basics of Federal Court Litigation as it pertains to Immigration – specifically Mandamus and Habeas Corpus actions. We will also discuss when it is appropriate to file, and how to file.
November 10, 2005
Committee Meeting
The New Hampshire Trespass Cases
Mona T. Movafaghi will discuss the facts surrounding the charging of undocumented aliens with Criminal Trespass under NH RSA Section 635:2, and why this seemingly inconsequential case gained such prominence. Ms. Movafaghi will also discuss the State’s theory of the case and the doctrine of federal preemption. She will cover new threats to undocumented alien in the State of New Hampshire and across the country.
Cases to be discussed:
State of New Hampshire vs. Jorge Mora Ramirea
Jaffrey/Peterborough District Court
Case No.: 05 CR 00736
State of New Hampshire vs. Margarito Jaramillo Escobar
Nashua District Court
Case No: 05 CR 3946
October 13, 2005
Committee Meeting
PERM: A How To Guide
Steven A. Clark, past president of AILA National, will provide guidance on how to navigate the treacherous waters of PERM by covering the most up to date changes to the PERM process and answering any questions you may have.
Time will be set aside at the end of the program to address some of the special issues and problems that have been created by the dramatic regression in Immigrant Visa numbers. We will discuss ways in which we can protect our clients.
October 6, 2005
Committee Meeting
ICE: Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Understanding How The Agency Works
“FACT: Your clients do not want to appear on the front page of the Boston Globe for enforcement violations!”
The Department of Homeland Security has created a new enforcement agency, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which joins together the formerly separate agencies of Immigration and Customs. The speakers will explain the new enforcement protocols and guidelines and answer any questions you may have. The issue is no longer whether your client has complied in one or another area of law, the new issue is “Security.” It is our job as attorneys to be able to provide comprehensive advice and counsel in a broad range of areas to insure that our clients international and domestic business activities are not compromised with the new enforcement requirements.
Speakers:
- Robert P. Bushey, Assistant Special Agent in charge of the Boston Office of Immigration and Customs Enforcement
- Cheryl Bassett, Group Supervisor, Human Smuggling and Human Trafficking, Boston Office of Immigration and Customs Enforcement
September 8, 2005
Committee Meeting
Requesting Prevailing Wage and Job Posting Under PERM
New Labor Certification Regulations (PERM) became effective on March 28 th resulting in the creation of entirely new systems for obtaining Prevailing Wage as well as Posting the job on Job Bank – both required by the State.
Loreena LaMarca, Manager of Massachusetts Division of Career Services Central Programs is responsible for implementing and managing this process. She will speak to us together with John LaLumiere, the most senior member of her staff. They will explain how the new system works to arrive at a Prevailing Wage, and how we as attorneys can navigate through this system to assist our clients in running the required 30 day Job Posting here in Massachusetts. This is the mandatory first step for any PERM case filed in the State – learn how this is done from the people who run the program!
|
