People who enjoy helping others realize their dreams of citizenship often wonder how to become an immigration paralegal. This requires the right combination of education and experience in order to be successful at this line of work. Although it is often not required, being bi-lingual could also place one applicant at an advantage over another one.
Skills
An immigration paralegal should have a solid understanding of the process required to become a United States citizen. This professional should also know the requirements for obtaining student or work visas. A great deal of patience is necessary, as the paralegal may often work with individuals who have difficulty communicating due to language barriers. In addition, many of these clients also have little or no knowledge of the legal system. This means their rights must often be explained to them in great detail. Attention to detail is critical in this line of work, since even a miniscule error in an application could result in a rejection.
Interests
Those who are successful at being an immigration paralegal are normally those who are interested in getting to know people of many different cultures. They should also be understanding and compassionate in order to fully meet the needs of these clients. Those who enjoy law and history often gravitate toward employment in an immigration law firm.
Education and Training
In order to become an immigration paralegal, a Bachelor’s degree is usually preferred. During the course of his or her studies, a student should cover Criminal Law and Immigration Law in great detail. Following graduation, it is helpful if a candidate works in a general law firm for one to two years before applying for a position with an immigration attorney. Those who have previously worked as a customs or border patrol agent may be more familiar with immigration law, and can usually substitute this experience for work as a general paralegal.
Roles and Responsibilities
An immigration paralegal is normally one of the first individuals a client meets when they visit a law firm. During their initial visit, this legal assistant may talk to these clients in great detail in order to learn a little bit about them and determine what their needs are. This information is then passed on to the supervising attorney so he or she can properly advise the client, as paralegals are prohibited from passing on legal advice.
Once the client’s particular needs are determined, the immigration paralegal is normally responsible for creating many of the legal documents required for citizenship applications or visas. This professional might also research case law and help the attorney prepare for trial in the event a deportation hearing is required. An immigration paralegal could also attempt to contact witnesses or gather any necessary evidence that might be presented at one of these trials.
An immigration paralegal may work for a private law firm or government agency. The best way to gather information on how to become an immigration paralegal is by talking with those who are already working in this capacity.
