what classes i need to take to become a immigration lawyer

by Ms. Rosalia Huel Jr. 5 min read

The first step in becoming an immigration lawyer is to earn a bachelor's degree. While pre-law majors do exist, it is not necessary that an aspiring lawyer earn their undergraduate degree in law; majors as diverse as government, mathematics, English, and history are all common among law students.

Full Answer

What kind of Education is needed to become an immigration lawyer?

Courses in foreign languages would be well-suited to immigration lawyers, as would courses in public speaking and courses which are writing intensive. After completing a bachelor's degree, students will need to take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) and achieve a score which a law school that they apply to would deem acceptable.

What are the different types of courses in immigration law?

Mar 08, 2021 · How to become an immigration lawyer. To become an immigration lawyer and start working with your first clients, follow the steps listed below: 1. Earn a bachelor's degree. Before attending law school, future lawyers first obtain a bachelor's degree. Your bachelor's degree can be in any concentration, but some make it easier to get into law ...

What classes do you need to take to become a lawyer?

Sep 18, 2021 · Popular Courses for Immigration The path toward becoming a successful Immigration lawyer requires a lot of effort, but it is a rewarding career option. Given below is a list of programs that will provide a base to meet your licensing requirements: Graduate Diploma in Migration Law; LLM in Immigration Law; BA LL.B; Juris Degree (J.D.)

How do I get a job at an immigration law firm?

Aug 18, 2021 · If you're interested in becoming an Immigration Lawyer, one of the first things to consider is how much education you need. We've determined that 52.4% of Immigration Lawyers have a bachelor's degree. In terms of higher education levels, we found that 4.8% of Immigration Lawyers have master's degrees. Even though most Immigration Lawyers have a college …

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Do immigration lawyers work for the government?

They must keep themselves informed on new policies and legal changes, many of which come from the federal government. Immigration lawyers may work for a firm or set up their own practice. They may specialize in working with immigrants from a particular country or region so they are able to become experts.

What does an immigration lawyer do?

An immigration lawyer enables immigrants to live and work in the U.S. by helping them obtain a green card or visa, gain lawful permanent status, or be granted political asylum. According to Cornell Legal Information Institute, as an immigration lawyer you'll also defend illegal immigrants or help them become naturalized citizens ( www.law.cornell.edu ). Typical duties will likely include meeting with and interviewing clients, researching cases, writing motions and arguing cases in court. A bachelor's degree, a doctoral degree and a state-issued license to practice law are required to begin practicing as an immigration lawyer.

How long does it take to get a bar license?

You'll need to pass the bar exam to obtain licensure in the state where you intend to practice immigration law. According to the BLS, most states give a 6-hour Multi state Bar Examination, which tests you on several areas of law.

What is an immigration lawyer?

An immigration lawyer is a legal professional who helps people from other countries who wish to live, work or study within the United States. Immigration laws are typically very complex, and the average person often needs legal assistance to fully understand them. Immigration lawyers work with people regardless of their resident status.

What are the fields of study for lawyers?

Political science. Economics. International studies. These fields of study cover topics such as labor laws, the politics of immigration and the most common reasons for immigration. They also provide you with strong writing and critical thinking skills, from which all lawyers benefit. 2. Obtain a J.D.

How does immigration law impact a person's life?

Immigration law has the potential to impact a person's life in many ways, such as the ability to work or run a business, pay their taxes and take care of their families. Immigration lawyers may occasionally work on criminal cases as well. Some common types of cases for immigration lawyers include:

What is international studies?

International studies. These fields of study cover topics such as labor laws, the politics of immigration and the most common reasons for immigration. They also provide you with strong writing and critical thinking skills, from which all lawyers benefit. 2.

What to do after a bachelor's degree?

After graduating with a bachelor's degree, it's time to pursue your J.D. from a law school. If you have the option, it's helpful to choose a concentration or specialization in immigration law to better prepare yourself for your future career.

What to do after graduation?

Throughout your studies and after graduation, it's essential to gain hands-on experience, as many clients and employers look for this when considering who to hire. Whenever possible, seek out internships, volunteer opportunities and part-time jobs that allow you to gain exposure to anything related to your specialization. While any experience working with the law is good, future employers and clients may prefer experience with immigration law.

How much will the number of lawyers grow in the next 10 years?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there is a 4% expected growth rate in the number of all lawyers for the next ten years, which is the average anticipated growth rate for most occupations in that time frame.

What are the first year courses?

Take required first-year courses. Typical first year courses are contracts, torts, Constitutional law, property, and legal writing. Earn good grades, as your grades are important to future employers. ...

What are some ways to meet practitioners in the field?

Attend an annual conference to rub shoulders with establish immigration attorneys. The continuing legal education courses offered by professional organizations are a great way to supplement your law school education.

Who is an Immigration Lawyer?

An immigration lawyer is a legal personnel specialised in resolving issues related to citizenship denials, appealing citizenship denials and obtaining visas. In order to become successful in the arena, one needs to stay well-informed with the migration laws of different countries and the process to apply for the same.

Eligibility Criteria

The eligibility conditions for law courses usually vary as per the program and university you have chosen. Most students opt for BA LLB or LLB programs to become a lawyer. Later, students can go for LLM specializations after finishing their bachelor’s.

Required Skills

To become an Immigration lawyer, one must possess certain skills in order to do justice to the field. Even though most of the skills can be developed over a period of time, after completing a degree in the field. Some skills need to be built by the candidates who aspire to become a successful Immigration lawyer. Given below are some of them:

Popular Courses for Immigration

The path toward becoming a successful Immigration lawyer requires a lot of effort, but it is a rewarding career option. Given below is a list of programs that will provide a base to meet your licensing requirements:

Top University to Become an Immigration Lawyer

There are various educational institutions that offer diplomas, bachelor’s and master’s programs in Immigration law and its related courses. Given below is a list of one of the top law colleges across the world:

Job Prospects

The demand for Immigration lawyers in every corner of the world has increased the career opportunities for students pursuing a course in the very field. Studying a course in the very field from renowned universities abroad have various benefits. Let’s look at some of the job profiles, which students can pursue after completion of course:

What are the best states to work as an immigration lawyer?

The best states for people in this position are New York, Massachusetts, Washington, and Vermont. Immigration lawyers make the most in New York with an average salary of $138,636. Whereas in Massachusetts and Washington , they would average $123,400 and $116,134, respectively. While immigration lawyers would only make an average of $108,463 in Vermont, you would still make more there than in the rest of the country. We determined these as the best states based on job availability and pay. By finding the median salary, cost of living, and using the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Location Quotient, we narrowed down our list of states to these four.

How much do immigration lawyers make?

Immigration Lawyers in America make an average salary of $93,406 per year or $45 per hour. The top 10 percent makes over $178,000 per year, while the bottom 10 percent under $48,000 per year.

How long does it take to become an immigration lawyer?

All told, an aspiring immigration lawyer needs a total of seven years of full-time study after high school to obtain a Juris Doctor degree . He will also need a few more months to pass the bar exam and meet local bar association requirements. Those who pass the bar exam on their first try can be licensed as attorneys about seven and a half years after graduating from high school.

Can an immigration lawyer practice in any area of law?

Since the US does not offer separate licenses for different legal practice areas (with limited exceptions), an immigration lawyer is typically entitled to practice in any area of law, and many immigration lawyers do exactly that. Be wary of this type of “jack of all trades” lawyer. Immigration lawyers perform the following tasks, among others:

Is immigration law federal or state law?

Jurisdictional Freedom. Immigration law is federal law, not state law. As a consequence, obtaining a license to practice law in any state will entitle you to practice immigration law anywhere in the United States without taking the time to join that state’s bar association.

Is immigration law politically sensitive?

Immigration law is one of the most politically sensitive areas of law, and it can change with astonishing rapidity. Changes in immigration law have proceeded at a dizzying pace during the Trump administration, for example. It is for this reason that when you select an immigration lawyer, you should choose a candidate with recent experience in ...

What are the best college subjects for lawyers?

College subjects. Some of the most important college subjects for future lawyers are: 1. Statistics and data science. Studying data and statistics in college can be a continuation of your math education and provide you with key skills in analyzing and managing to draw conclusions regarding large amounts of data.

What are the skills required to become a lawyer?

Close reading and reasoning. Lawyers often need to quickly familiarize themselves with relatively large passages of previously unknown text, so classes that involve reading literature very important for developing these skills.

What is a lawyer?

Lawyers, also called attorneys, are tasked with advising their clients and representing them in civil and criminal cases. Their responsibilities span from simply offering legal advice to preparing legal documents on behalf of the client and ultimately representing the client in front of a court of law.

What language do lawyers need to learn?

English. Excelling in high school English language and literature classes can help aspiring lawyers develop their spoken and written communication skills as well as their comprehension abilities. As many law schools require applicants to submit an essay before admission, working on your English skills is crucial for improving the odds ...

What do lawyers need to know?

Lawyers generally need to have extensive knowledge of any subject that can describe and influence society, such as economics, history, politics, government affairs and other similar ones. Taking a social studies class can help you understand concepts like how laws and regulations are made, how legal procedures and precedents work and other similar concepts that are vital for successfully practicing law.

What can lawyers learn from science?

By learning about science, future lawyers can develop the skills they need to understand various pieces of evidence, use them to investigate cases and connect all the available information to come up with a reasonable conclusion. 5. Mathematics.

How long does it take to get a Juris Doctor degree?

You can earn a Juris Doctor degree by graduating from a law school that's accredited by the American Bar Association, which takes three years. During law school, you can choose to focus on one particular area of the law, such as criminal, environmental, tax, property, real estate or family. Pass the bar exam.

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Immigration Lawyers Work with Both Legal and Illegal Immigrants

Immigration Lawyers Pave The Path to Citizenship and Opportunity

How to Prepare For A Position as An Immigration Lawyer

Becoming Certified as An Immigration Lawyer

Educational Requirements

  • In order to practice law as an immigration lawyer, one must have a bachelor’s degree and a Juris Doctor Law degree. During law school, in order to specialize in immigration law, the course load includes classes in citizenship, advising, interviewing and statutory analysis. Internships and other applicable work experience are vital for job applicant...
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