Do you want to make a difference in society and have a successful career as a deportation attorney in Kissimmee, FL? If yes, you are in the right place. Keep reading this article to know what it takes to become a deportation lawyer.
But First: Are You Really Interested in Deportation Law?
Do you like to take a stance on life issues? Does the thought of helping people from different parts of the world move you? Do you like communicating and interacting with people from different cultures and countries? Do you have an interest in family law, criminal law, civil rights, constitutional law, education law, business law or compliance?
Well, if any of these questions appeal to you then you are definitely going to benefit and enjoy from studying deportation law. Why? This is because deportation law in Kissimmee, FL gives you a voice to support people who have immigration-related issues to resolve.
It provides you with power and foundation to represent the immigrants who belong to different ethnicity, culture and countries. Also, it allows you to understand how an individual’s deportation status might help them in numerous unallied ways.
What Is the Role of Deportation Attorney in Kissimmee, FL?
Deportation attorneys help immigrant families, businesses and individuals to work, live and study within the United States with their great skills and knowledge of deportation law.
The deportation attorney represents the immigrants in administrative courts. They counsel the immigrants about their lawful obligations and rights regarding immigration, with other things such as paperwork and requirements to fill out the application form.
They are also responsible for suggesting the courses of action based on their skills and knowledge of deportation law in Kissimmee, FL.
For instance, the deportation attorney might help people of other countries through the immigration process of gaining legal status to work in the U.S with the H-1B visa facility. This visa facility or program gives a framework for U.S employers to hire non-American people in jobs where their qualifications and skills are required. People wanting to come to the U.S to fill such positions should get approval through an intimidating and complex process.
The employers hoping to hire these people turn to deportation attorneys, who provide proper assistance in filling up the application forms and taking other required legal steps. The deportation lawyers may also represent immigrants in dealing with official matters with the government related to the visa and application approval.
The deportation attorney can be found in different legal settings as well, from smaller practices to big law firms that specialize deportation law, to non-profit organizations to official government agencies. Moreover, every top-class athlete or performer has a deportation lawyer behind them, instructing them on securing necessary visas. Other possibilities may include becoming a legislative aid, an immigration judge or an elected or appointed official.
Criminal attorneys would also be advised to understand deportation law, as they can be legally penalized for failing to properly advise non-U.S clients of the immigration consequences of pleas, sentences and convictions. This means that deportation law can be great for students who are interested in international law and human rights, as well as those interested in learning criminology or business law.
How to Become a Deportation Attorney in Kissimmee, Florida?
- Educational Requirement
If you want to become a deportation attorney in Kissimmee, Florida, you must earn a four years bachelor’s degree at a university or college. A bachelor’s degree is required to enter law school.
You can pick a major in any of your desired fields as law schools don’t usually require you to have a particular major to gain admission. But before that, you need to pass the LSAT (Law School Admission Test) to enroll in the university. Therefore, it is advised to start preparing for the LSAT in advance, ideally during your bachelor’s degree. This will give you enough time for the preparation.
After passing the LSAT successfully, you will be admitted to the law school to earn a Juris Doctor (JD) Degree. In the first year, you will be offered to take general courses such as property law, contracts, legal writing, contracts, etc., while in the last two years you will be offered the courses that are related your field .i.e. Deportation Law.
During your law school period, it is essential to join professional law organizations such as AILA (American Immigration Lawyer Association). This will help you meet the practitioners in the field and will give you opportunities to work with them.
- Obtaining License
After obtaining a Juris Doctor (JD) degree, you need to give your state’s bar exam. Every lawyer is required to pass this exam in order to get licensed and begin working professionally. The bar exam varies from state to state and is administered over the course of three-day period. You can take a bar exam course after your graduation to fully prepare for the exam.
- Professional Law Practice
Other than the required education and licensing, it is essential to build your deportation law practice. This is because most employers or law firms look for factors such as professional or practical experience and skills that are required to work as a deportation lawyer. Therefore, you must find internship opportunities with law firms that specialize in deportation law or immigration issues during or after your graduation period. It not only helps improve your skills but also boosts your chances of landing a position as a deportation attorney.
To give your career and your curriculum vitae (CV) an edge, you should also consider learning a foreign language (other than English) if you don’t speak one already. It will help you target the clients of that specific language, such as if you learn to speak French, you will easily be able to target and deal with French people.
- Finding a Job
As the ratio of immigrants is increasing day by day, the demand for deportation attorneys is also increasing. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment rate of lawyers is likely to increase by 6% between the years 2014–2024. This means approximately 44,000 more vacancies will be available for lawyers.
However, it must be noted that the competition for such vacancies is predicted to increase as well. This is why if you want to become a deportation attorney, you’ll need to be goal-oriented and should focus on setting yourself apart from the competition. In this case, your experience, skills, achievements, training and good resume will set you apart from other candidates.
When searching for the job of a deportation attorney, you must ensure to utilize the contacts you’ve built up over the years, especially the ones which you may have built during your internships.
- Skills Required for the Job
Deportation attorney may represent their clients, businesses or individuals in court or help them outside the courtroom by offering legal counseling. As mentioned above, they deal with issues such as:
- Acquiring citizenship
- Deportation
- Assisting foreign companies in building themselves legally in the US
- Employment visas for immigrants
- Filing for a refugee status or a political asylum
- Obtaining a green card
This means you need to have some important set of skills to deal with these issues. Some of them are listed below:
- You should have excellent public speaking and communication skills
- You must be good at critical thinking
- You must have an excellent reputation in your professional field
- You should be experienced
- You should have great references
- You need to be accessible
- You must have the ability to create new solutions
- You need to be responsible to show a genuine commitment to your clients
Want to Know How Much Do Deportation Attorneys Get Paid?
Attorneys, including deportation attorneys in Kissimmee, FL, are usually paid on a fleet basis or an hourly basis. An hourly median wage of an attorney in the United States is $55.69, with the lowest-paid attorneys earning about $26.85 per hour and the highest-paid attorneys earning about $90 or maybe more per hour.
Additionally, the average attorney wage in Kissimmee, FL, is $90,281, but the range typically lies between $78,415 and $103,700. You must keep in mind that salary ranges can vary depending on numerous important factors such as certifications, educations, professional skills and your experience in the professional field.
Practicing immigration or deportation law is a well-paid professional. However, some deportation attorneys in Kissimmee, Florida, offer their service at a reduced rate as well. If you have your own law firm, you charge the rate as per your experience and achievements.
But if you work in a law firm, you will have to settle with your fixed monthly salary given by the company. Moreover, if you truly have a passion to work as a deportation lawyer in Kissimmee, FL then you must never keep your main focus on your salary in the initial stage, as gaining experience must be your first priority.