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Attorney
By
Attorney
Career Profiles of the Profession
Who?
Name:
Gregory Siskind
gsiskind@visalaw.com
What?
Primary Practice Area & Subspecialty Fields:
Immigration Law
When?
In Practice Area:
Since 1991
In the Legal Profession:
Since 1990
Where?
Employer:
Siskind, Susser, Haas & Devine
http://www.visalaw.com
Size/Sector:
22 attorneys
City/State:
Memphis, Tennessee
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Law School:
University of Chicago, 1990
Undergraduate School/Degree:
Vanderbilt University, political science, 1986
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Why?
Pluses/Challenges of Practice Area:
Very hot practice area; less adversarial than other practice areas; More contemporary practice type than others (flat billing is the norm; technology plays a bigger role, etc.); federal practice means it is easy to have national clientele; the law changes frequently so the practice area remains interesting.
Core Skills/Key Knowledge Needed in Your Practice Area:
Detail-oriented; good people skills (a good immigration lawyer is part lawyer, part social worker).
Advice to Lawyers and Law Students Interested in Your Practice Area:
Good mentoring early on is absolutely vital. This is a practice area that quickly changes and it is extremely easy to commit malpractice. Invest in automation and splurge on subscribing to good research products.
How?
Influences and Mentors:
I’ve always had an interest in traveling as well as international affairs so immigration law is a natural for me. I have been a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association for 10 years and have relied on mentoring by many, many of its members over the years.
Suggested Reading About Your Practice Area:
Ira Kurzban’s immigration law treatise is a must. The American Immigration Law Association publishes a number of useful immigration practice management books.
Job Search Techniques Used in Finding Your Position(s):
American Immigration Lawyers Association monthly magazine posts job listings. Finding entry-level positions is really hard. It might be better to find a position in another practice area and accept pro bono immigration cases to get some experience. Jobs for mid-level associates – those with two or more years of experience – seem to be much more plentiful. Immigration is also a practice area where establishing a solo practice right out of law school is possible. Most immigration practices are solos and small firms.
Bar Affiliations and Activities:
American Bar Association (member of Law Practice Management Section’s Publishing Board),
American Immigration Lawyers Association,
Tennessee Bar Association,
Memphis Bar Association,
Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (board member)
Recent Professional Publications:
J-1 Visa Guidebook, Lexis Publishing (published annually)
The Lawyer’s Guide to Marketing on the Internet, ABA Law Practice Management Section
Publish Siskind’s Immigration Bulletin (go to http://www.visalaw.com/bulletin.html).
Recent Professional Presentations:
I speak at two or three programs a month on topics either relating to immigration or the Internet. Examples of audiences recently addressed include the ABA Techshow, the American Immigration Lawyers Association annual meeting, as well as monthly teleseminars run by our firm.
Memorable Career Moment:
Being profiled in the Wall Street Journal.
Intriguing Interests:
Genealogy, rare newspaper collecting, web programming, marathon running.
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