Becoming an Immigration Lawyer

Choosing the Right Law School

Before you can become an immigration lawyer, you'll need to gain entry to and graduate from a law school. While most law schools have at least one elective course in immigration law, if you want to become an immigration attorney, then it's best to find a school that offers a specialization in immigration law to its students. Such schools will offer many different courses focusing on immigration issues and will, in most cases, allow third-year students to specialize exclusively in it. Many different schools offer such programs, but some of the best immigration law programs for prospective immigration lawyers include those at the University of Michigan, Stanford, Harvard, University of Texas and John Marshall law schools. If you can gain admittance to any of these programs or to any other law school that offers a specialization in immigration law, you'll have taken that first step toward becoming an immigration attorney.

Finding a Relevant Internship

The most crucial step, after gaining entry to the right law school and excelling there, is to find a relevant second-summer internship. If you want to become an immigration lawyer, then it's immensely important that you secure an internship at an immigration law firm or a related nonprofit organization to take place between your second and third years of law school. The size of the firm or organization that you select matters only inasmuch as you should select the kind of place where you would like to work long-term. Because of the nature of immigration law, there are, in addition to law firms, many nonprofit groups and governmental jobs that are available, so be sure to investigate all of your options. It's a good idea to start researching and applying for such internships as early as possible, even during your first year of law school. Also, make sure that the internship you take reflects the type of immigration law you want to pursue. A large firm will focus primarily on moneyed clients, while most nonprofits and governmental agencies work with different aspects of immigration law.

Intern Well

A lukewarm or failed second-summer internship generally results in the prospective attorney failing to be hired by her internship firm or organization. For someone who aspires to be an immigration lawyer, this can spell absolute disaster. If one immigration firm blackballs, you then other firms may follow suit. So, really bring your best game to your second-summer internship, whether it takes place at a firm, a government office or a nonprofit group. During those three months, you should show up to work early, dress well and do everything you possibly can to impress the firm's lawyers.

Resources

• More Information About Immigration Law from Cornell Law School