With the controversial issues regarding immigrants, discontinuing immigration laws for some recipients, and imposing a notice of deportation to most non-citizens during the Trump administration, it is now necessary to have a legal representative in terms of immigration assistance. It is one to hire a lawyer, and it is another to have found a good one.
Therefore, as Law schools all over the country embark a significant amount of pride in terms of being one of the most challenging and in-demand professional courses, although the fate of an aspiring lawyer varies on the determination and commitment of the aspirant, universities all over the world work hard to make a name out of their institution; in the hopes to grant their students a passing or high mark in the bar exam.
The question is, once a bar exam passer is certified, what comes next? Moreover, how can I practice? or along the lines of, can I now practice Immigration Law anywhere? To further understand the scope and limitation of immigration lawyers with their practice, here are some details you might want to know about.
Can or Cannot?
Since the Immigration Law in the United States is under the Federal Law, where it follows the US Congress’ rules and regulations, an attorney who passed the bar exam of any state in the United States can practice immigration law within the country. This is provided that the lawyer is a bar member with good standing of one state at minimum.
Once licensed, the United States Citizen Immigration and Services (USCIS) accepts the practitioner in any state in the U.S., especially as a legal representative in the immigration court. However, according to Ilona Bray, J.D., a Juris Doctor who has been writing legal practices for lawyers in All Law, most immigration attorneys opt to stay within the state where they got their license but welcome all immigration clients around 50 states.
Lawyers who are not yet licensed in a specific state are recommended not to practice other scopes of law that cross the boundaries of immigration. The laws pertained are any law that considers criminal offenses or involving the family due to being unauthorized in that state.
Differences of Immigration Courts
In some cases, there are stated differences regarding the immigration law in some courthouses. This means a client should settle with an attorney licensed initially within the area and had several encounters or practices regarding the case and within the courtroom. This creates a safe call for both the legal expert and his client.
Conclusion
Legally, it is safe to practice immigration law in any state in the United States when you have the license and certification. However, it is still best to understand other conditions and rules followed by our client’s state before accepting the case. If your goal is to cater to every client within 50 states, it is recommended to be licensed in more than one state. For more information, ask an immigration lawyer in Houston or anywhere near you.