How to Become an Immigation Attorney
Immigration law is a type of federal law that determines the legal rights, duties and obligations of aliens currently residing or staying in the United States. It also provides the guidelines by which foreign individuals may become American citizens. Immigration law is typically within the jurisdiction of federal--rather than state--courts. Immigration lawyers can defend immigrants or work on behalf of the United States government to prosecute them, most commonly for illegal entry.
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Instructions
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Graduate from college and receive your Bachelor's degree. Ideally, you should major in a subject that will develop your critical thinking abilities, as well as your reading and writing skills. First year law students---or 1Ls---are expected to read up to one hundred pages of cases and legal materials per week. A degree in foreign affairs or political science, while not mandatory, could be useful for a future immigration attorney.
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Take the Law School Admissions Test, or LSAT. This is a half-day standardized test designed to examine your critical thinking skills while under pressure. It is administered at test sites throughout the United States.
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Apply for law school admission based on your undergraduate grade point average (GPA) and LSAT score.
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Attend a law school and earn your Juris Doctor (J.D.). Full-time J.D. courses last for three years, while most night school or part-time programs take four years to complete. During this time, you should participate in internships and clerkships which focus on immigration law. You may also wish to pay for and watch immigration-related CLEs, or Continuing Legal Education videos, which are available online.
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Take your state's bar examination. The bar exam is a multi-day professional examination designed to test your knowledge of substantive law and measure your written advocacy skills.
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Find a firm which specializes in immigration cases. This information is available through your state's bar website.
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Apply for membership to the American Immigration Lawyers' Association. This is networking and immigration advocacy organization dedicated to raising awareness of immigrants' rights and the promotion of immigration law.
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Apply for admission to your region's federal court. Attorney applicants are expected to be familiar with local civil rules.
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Be sworn in at the ceremonial swearing-in. Fees for this process can vary. Contact your local district court for further information.
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Tips & Warnings
There are a large number of preparatory courses available for both the LSAT and bar exam. You may wish to use these study aids to maximize your study potential.
Attend an ABA-approved school, as this will allow you to sit for any state's bar exam immediately after graduation. There are a number of non-approved schools in existence, including several online options.
