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DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20160907T000000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20160907T130000
DTSTAMP:20260409T020656
CREATED:20160805T172628Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20160805T172744Z
UID:1771-1473206400-1473253200@www.soundimmigration.com
SUMMARY:Legal Advocacy with Graphic Design
DESCRIPTION:Register here\nAs lawyers we like to write and we love to talk. But words are not always the best way to convey information to judges\, juries and decision makers. In this webinar we will explore how graphic design can be used to persuasively and clearly communicate legal information. Learn how to cut through the clutter and present information in the way today’s audience expects it. \n\nAbout our speaker\, Troy White\n \nI’ve been drawing\, building\, inventing\, sculpting\, and creating all of my life. Becoming a designer was a natural choice\, and I’ve enjoyed the variety of experiences I’ve obtained through design over the last 10 years. Any kind of design involves small choices which will make a big difference in the outcome of the whole. In design for the legal world\, these small choices can be magnified\, as each one might affect the outcome of a significant decision. \nI enjoy the problem solving inherent in working on cases – in telling a complex story in a clear and compelling way. For over five years\, I have been helping attorneys tell the story of their client\, and why they deserve the justice they seek. Once a case gets to court\, there is enough in dispute that it is not enough to simply present the facts. You need to persuade. I thrive on figuring out the most effective way to do that; through color\, space\, or the movement and builds of information on slides. \nI currently live in Seattle\, and enjoy the change of pace of the Pacific Northwest. Besides trial graphics\, my interests lie in illustration\, animation\, interactivity\, and writing. Thank you for taking the time to look at my work. \nTroy White \n mr.troywhite@gmail.com
URL:https://www.soundimmigration.com/event/legal-advocacy-graphic-design/
LOCATION:Webinar only
CATEGORIES:CLE,Webinar
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.soundimmigration.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/PS-at-a-glance-ONE-SLIDE.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20160927T073000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20160927T083000
DTSTAMP:20260409T020656
CREATED:20160909T171027Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20160909T171142Z
UID:1982-1474961400-1474965000@www.soundimmigration.com
SUMMARY:What Are the Benefits of Kanban for Legal Teams?
DESCRIPTION:Register here\n\nKanban is a highly effective method for project management. It’s used by many innovative businesses in various industries and the legal sector is no exception! In this specialized webinar\, we will discuss what exactly Kanban is\, and how your legal team can leverage it in every phase of your law firm management. Join our panel discussion on the 27th of September and have your questions answered by the experts. \n  \nFeaturing:\n Greg McLawsen\n \nGreg McLawsen is the founder and managing attorney of Sound Immigration\, a cloud-based immigration law firm. Greg has championed the reinvention law practice as Chair of the Solo and Small Practice Section of the Washington State Bar Association and as co-facilitator of Seattle’s Legal Technology and Innovation Meetup group. \n\n Sascha Theissen\n \nSascha is a provider of lean\, business improving interdisciplinary solutions. He started his career in 2002 in private practice. In 2010\, Sascha switched to a senior in-house position atHoltzbrinck\, a leading international publishing group. As a General Counsel\, Sascha successfully introduced Kanban\, Legal Design Thinking\, and agile management into the legal department. \n  \nJohn Grant\n \nJohn is a lawyer and an Agile Scrum Master who was recently tapped to lead the Fisher Focus innovation program at Fisher & Phillips LLP. Prior to law school\, he worked for over 8 years in the software industry\, and as an attorney\, he has twice served as in-house counsel in addition to co-founding a boutique IP practice. \nOver the past few years\, John has consulted with in-house legal teams and law firms to implement Lean and Agile methodologies for legal project management and process improvement in both transactional and litigation settings. \nJohn is a zealous advocate for bringing proven business world practices into the legal arena and is a frequent author and speaker on topics like Lean\, Agile\, Lean Startup\, and Design Thinking for lawyers. He blogs at Legal Value Theory and his in-progress book\, Kanban for Lawyers\, is available here.
URL:https://www.soundimmigration.com/event/1982/
LOCATION:Webinar only
CATEGORIES:Webinar
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.soundimmigration.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/shutterstock_362923238.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20160928T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20160928T124500
DTSTAMP:20260409T020656
CREATED:20160901T181818Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20160901T181818Z
UID:1929-1475064000-1475066700@www.soundimmigration.com
SUMMARY:Understanding the Visa Bulletin
DESCRIPTION:How in the world are you supposed to use the new Visa Bulletin? That’s what we’ll delve into in this month’s free immigration webinar. We’ll walk through how to understand the Department of State’s new(ish) and confusing format. Learn how to assess case timelines\, and counsel clients. \n Free registration here\nAbout our presenter\n\nMercedes Riggs is of counsel to Sound migration. Here’s Mercedes in her own words: \nLife is just too interesting to have one career. Before law school I went to Stanford University and earned an Engineering degree in in Product Design. I loved inventing things and understanding the technical “guts” of the products that I was designing. After Stanford I went to work for an internet startup\, but soon learned was more interested in protecting the legal rights of people like our software developers than the products we were building. So I decided to go to law school. \nSome of my early work in the legal field was for technology giants like Yahoo! and Hewlett-Packard. But I also volunteered with a workers’ rights clinic. After joining the Bar in Washington State I opened my own practice and focused on bankruptcy\, small business law\, and contracts. The main reason I went into solo practice was to have the flexibility to spend time with my first child (now she’s five!). When I took on some pro bono immigration cases through the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project (NWIRP) I was quickly hooked on the practice area and decided to devote my practice to immigration law. Nothing in my career has been more rewarding than uniting love ones and building new lives in the United States. \nI continue to volunteer a substantial amount of my time to helping disadvantaged immigrants. In addition to work for NWIRP I also take on pro bono cases from Catholic Charities\, and I usually volunteer at Citizenship Days organized by OneAmerica. I love working as an immigration attorney since a lot of my job helps families be together after long periods of separation. Family is very important to me\, and I can relate to my clients since my parents and brothers live on the East Coast. Although I feel close to them\, I don’t see them in person as often as I would like. I work hard to ensure that my clients can be united with their families. \nIf you had told me 15 years ago when I was an engineering student at Stanford that I would now be an immigration attorney I would not have believed you\, but I love my job. When I’m not working\, I enjoy hiking and exploring southwest Washington with my husband and three kids. \nExperience\n\nMercedes Riggs Law Office\, PLLC (Attorney)\nLaw Offices of William Parks (Legal Assistant)\nKGACLC Workers Rights Interviewing and Advising Clinic (Student Intern)\nSanta Clara University School of Law (Research Fellow for BroadBand Institute of California)\nMagellan Navigation\, Inc. (Law Clerk)\nFernandez & Associates (Summer Associate/Patent Strategy Intern)\nHewlett-Packard (Summer Legal Intern)\nYahoo! (Summer Legal Intern)\nBecome.com (Internet Researcher)\n\nEducation\n\nSanta Clara University School of Law (Juris Doctorate)\nStanford University (B.S. in Engineering – Product Design)
URL:https://www.soundimmigration.com/event/understanding-visa-bulletin/
LOCATION:Webinar only
CATEGORIES:Webinar
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.soundimmigration.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/road-sky-sand-street.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Sound Immigration":MAILTO:greg@soundimmigration.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20161007T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20161007T130000
DTSTAMP:20260409T020656
CREATED:20161001T170309Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20161001T170309Z
UID:2073-1475841600-1475845200@www.soundimmigration.com
SUMMARY:DIY video marketing for your law firm
DESCRIPTION:Register here\nProducing videos for your law firm might seem daunting but it doesn’t have to be. Great videos can vastly increase your website’s search engine ranking and provide an important way to reach new clients. Best of all\, relatively few attorneys are doing video (or doing it well) making this a promising way to market your firm. \nIn this webinar we’ll talk to attorney Shreya Ley about how she self-produces high-quality videos with little more than an iPhone and free software. Learn about each step that goes into a great DIY video including: \n\nChoosing your video capture device.\nIntro to 3-point lighting and good-enough substitutions.\nGetting audio-capture right.\nWhat is post-production?\nHow to clean up your audio.\nFree editing tools.\nPublishing your video online.\nMaximizing your SEO bump.\n\nAbout our speaker\n\nShreya Ley is a business owner and Lawyer-Human.  She started her working life as a Chemical Engineer in the Oil & Gas Industry and knows way too much about oil & gas and its impact on the global economy & politics.  After law school at Tulane\, she has focused on working with inventors\, entrepreneurs\, “idea people\,” and family businesses.  As a former punk rock kid\, she has always had a desire to NOT work for “the man\,” so after a short stint at Microsoft\, she opened LayRoots.  She and LayRoots help their clients live an awesome life.
URL:https://www.soundimmigration.com/event/diy-video-marketing-law-firm/
LOCATION:Webinar only
CATEGORIES:Webinar
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.soundimmigration.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/smaller.jpeg
ORGANIZER;CN="Sound Immigration":MAILTO:greg@soundimmigration.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20161207T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20161207T130000
DTSTAMP:20260409T020656
CREATED:20161201T191353Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20161201T191353Z
UID:2192-1481112000-1481115600@www.soundimmigration.com
SUMMARY:Creating Your Law Firm: Your Vision\, Your Life
DESCRIPTION:In partnership with WSBA’s Low Bono Section\, Moderate Means Program\, and the Law Office Management Assistance Program\, the SU Low Bono and Solo Initiative.\n\nRegister here\n \nStarting a law firm can be an intimidating endeavor\, but it is not only manageable\, it can be rewarding. Jenny Anderson and Greg McLawsen are living proof that running a small firm is possible and is a great path to fulfillment of your personal goals.  \n Jenny Anderson will share her experience starting a low bono practice before “low bono” became a trend\, and how she grew her solo practice to a three-partner firm. Greg McLawsen will discuss how his decentralized\, cloud-based immigration law firm allows him to work while traveling in Asia\, and has part of its team based in Bangalore. \n The goal is for you to leave this CLE feeling energized and capable of taking on the challenge of starting your own firm.  \n  \nJenny Anderson is one of the three partners that make up Anderson\, York\, & Stratton\, a low bono family law firm with a focus on cases involving domestic violence and child abuse. Jenny is a Seattle native and earned both her BA and JD from the University of Washington. In addition to her law practice\, Jenny is an adjunct faculty member at Seattle University School of Law\, where she has taught family law practice skills and is developing the curriculum for a class on domestic violence. She is also a founding member and the 2014-15 Chair of the Low Bono Section of the Washington State Bar Association and serves as a mentor attorney with Eastside Legal Assistance Program.  \n  \nGreg McLawsen is the founder and managing attorney of Sound Immigration\, a cloud-based immigration law firm. Greg has championed the reinvention of law practice as Chair of the Solo and Small Practice Section of the Washington State Bar Association and as co-facilitator of Seattle’s Legal Technology and Innovation Meetup group. Formerly a member of the WSBA’s Future of the Legal Profession Task Force\, Greg works to bring innovation into the practice of law. A proponent of alternative legal careers\, Greg has run his law firm from Burma\, China\, India\, Hawaii\, Thailand\, Laos\, and sometimes Washington State. \n\nThe 2016 CLE Connections Series\, which is open to law students and attorneys\, aims to offer high quality CLEs designed to help you run a successful law practice and opportunities to connect with other lawyer-entrepreneurs\, especially those serving the moderate income client community.   \n  \nStay tuned for details about the 2017 Low Bono Connections CLE Series! \n  \nThe Low Bono and Solo Initiative aims to assist our alumni in starting their own solo practices or small firms\, including those whose practices are designed to serve the moderate means client community. You are receiving this email because you have attended past programs or expressed interest in our programs.
URL:https://www.soundimmigration.com/event/creating-law-firm-vision-life/
LOCATION:Seattle University School of Law – Law School Annex\, Room 142\, E. Columbia Street between 12th and 13th Ave.\, Seattle\, 98122\, United States
CATEGORIES:CLE
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/gif:https://www.soundimmigration.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/low-bono.gif
ORGANIZER;CN="Seattle University School of Law":MAILTO:skinners@seattleu.edu
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20161214T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20161214T130000
DTSTAMP:20260409T020656
CREATED:20161207T222633Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20161207T222853Z
UID:2208-1481716800-1481720400@www.soundimmigration.com
SUMMARY:Using contract attorneys to scale your law practice
DESCRIPTION:Using contract attorneys to scale your law practice\nRegister here for free\nIn small law firms there is an inherent pickle when it comes to growth. If you hire employees too soon\, there may not be enough work to go around. If you fail to build capacity\, you lose profitable business that could have been yours. What to do? \nAn increasing number of law firms are solving this problem by outsourcing labor either temporarily or permanently. Outsourcing to contractors or specialty businesses instead of hiring employees can allow you to expand – that is\, to “scale” – your practice. At the same time\, this strategy allows you to mitigate the risk that comes with hiring employees or taking on additional tasks in house. Use of on-demand contractors means that they help is there when you need it\, and costs you nothing when you don’t. \nJoin us for a conversation to explore whether outsourcing could help you scale your law practice\, increase profitability\, and restore some much-needed work/life balance. \nAbout our speaker\nAndy Backlund is an experienced litigator and a creative entrepreneur. Andy developed the concept for Emerald City Attorney Network\, a full-service network of experienced and well-vetted contract attorneys and paralegals who turn excess work into billable hours for their clients. After surveying the Seattle legal market\, Andy realized that the available means for hiring quality contract attorneys were clearly insufficient. Emerald City Attorney Network was founded by Andy Backlund to offer an easy and profitable alternative option to hiring full time employees. Emerald City Attorney Network offers its clients well-qualified and experienced professionals who develop trust and familiarity with the attorneys they work for. In addition\, Andy acts as a “personal contract attorney/paralegal concierge\,” so clients have confidence that they will be well taken care of. \nIn his legal career\, Andy has worked in large firms representing Fortune 500 companies and also in small firms and solo practices helping plaintiffs and other individuals. Andy understands the staffing needs of these firms. While Andy’s practice has focused on product liability\, employment\, construction and disability law\, he has quickly mastered many other issues as a contract attorney. Andy has conducted hundreds of depositions\, prepared briefs\, argued motions\, managed cases\, handled mediations and participated in all stages of litigation through trial. Andy also volunteers his time at Disability Rights Washington (DRW) helping individuals with disabilities with their legal issues. Andy’s work with DRW has been highlighted on KOMO TV news and various newspapers. In his spare time\, Andy enjoys coaching youth baseball and basketball\, hiking\, biking and spending time with his family and friends.
URL:https://www.soundimmigration.com/event/using-contract-attorneys-scale-law-practice/
LOCATION:Webinar only
CATEGORIES:CLE,Webinar
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.soundimmigration.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/pexels-photo-29642-1-e1481149397179.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Sound Immigration":MAILTO:greg@soundimmigration.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20170201T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20170201T130000
DTSTAMP:20260409T020656
CREATED:20170110T051628Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20170110T052701Z
UID:2419-1485950400-1485954000@www.soundimmigration.com
SUMMARY:Make your practice more client friendly with design thinking
DESCRIPTION:  \n  \n  \n  \nThe law is notoriously verbocentric and dense. And from the client’s perspective\, legal services are rarely delivered in a user-friendly way. Although design-driven businesses have been shown to outperform their competitors\, the legal profession has been slow to adopt good design principles. In this webinar\, we’ll explore not only how design can help lawyers differentiate their services\, but also how design can make legal work product itself clearer and more effective. Learn what “design thinking” is all about. Hint: it’s not just about graphic design. \nOur guest speaker – Alexandra Devendra. \nAlexandra Devendra is the founder of Devendra Design\, a legal design consultancy. She helps lawyers make their work product more effective using typography and other principles of visual communication design. Alix also consults for legal-tech startups\, who value her experience in both law practice and design thinking. She travels internationally to speak and facilitate workshops on legal design. \nAlix is also a co-founder of Shape the Law\, which organizes unconferences and other innovative programming for attorneys across the country. Its goal is to facilitate authentic\, honest conversations about the many challenges facing the legal profession.  \nBefore founding Devendra Design\, Alix practiced labor & employment law in San Francisco. She can be found at www.devendra.design and on Twitter (@alixdevendra). \nRegister here
URL:https://www.soundimmigration.com/event/make-practice-client-friendly-design-thinking/
LOCATION:Webinar only
CATEGORIES:CLE,Webinar
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.soundimmigration.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Devendra-Title-Slide.png
ORGANIZER;CN="Sound Immigration":MAILTO:greg@soundimmigration.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20170215T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20170215T130000
DTSTAMP:20260409T020656
CREATED:20170119T182954Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20170120T045933Z
UID:2455-1487160000-1487163600@www.soundimmigration.com
SUMMARY:Across the line; Advocacy at U.S. ports of entry
DESCRIPTION:  \nFebruary 15\, 2017 – noon (PST)\nWhen it comes to legal advocacy\, United States ports of entry are an unfamiliar ballpark. There’re not even the same game. Foreign nationals have no right to legal representation. Attorneys have no right to be heard. In this unique niche of immigration law\, outcomes may be determined by obscure memoranda and local practices. In this webinar we will learn the ropes of this advocacy from some of the country’s leading border advocacy experts; including how to prepare your client for successful border crossings\, and how to advocate for your client when things have gone wrong. \nRegister here (free)\nThis webinar will address:\n\nConstitutional rights (or lack thereof) at the border\n\nRight to an attorney \n4A privacy rights\n\n\nNexus issues\n\nYou may lose Nexus if you adjust status\nNo lemons… \nNexus reinstatement\n\n\nHow to avoid wrong inadmissibility findings\n\nLooping in Watch Commander in advance\nDHS TRIP \n\n\nPreclearance \nExpedited Removal\n\nIs routinely applied to Canadians\nIs not permitted at PFI\nHow to appeal \n\n\nMarijuana\, DUIs\, and the CDC\nPort parole and other special entry issues \nI-94s and more…\n\nProblems with Nexus\nAutomated processing at PFI  \nDeferred Inspection\n\n\n\nAbout our presenters.\nGreg Boos.\nGreg Boos is a noted U.S. immigration lawyer and award-winning cross-border advocate. His practice includes U.S. nationality matters and U.S. business immigration. He represents a broad spectrum of multi-national companies\, international businesspersons\, and expatriate Americans. \nA results-oriented advocate\, Greg has been named one of the world’s leading practitioners of U.S. immigration law by the International Who’s Who of Corporate Immigration Lawyers. Based on peer reviews\, Martindale-Hubbell has awarded Greg an AV Preeminent rating\, a testament to the fact that his colleagues rank him at the highest level of professional excellence. \nGreg received his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Idaho in 1977. He is a member of the Washington State Bar Association and the bars of various U.S. Federal courts. He is also licensed as a Practitioner of Foreign Law by the Law Society of British Columbia. The International Criminal Court has approved Greg to practice before it and includes him as one of approximately 300 lawyers worldwide on its List of Counsel. \nGreg is an Adjunct Professor at Western Washington University where he acts as an external advisor to its Border Policy Research Institute. He is President of the Pacific Corridor Enterprise Council\, a Vancouver BC – based non-profit organization formed to promote cross-border trade and advocate for removal of barriers that impede the legitimate flow of people\, goods and services across the Canada/USA border. Greg splits his time between Vancouver B.C. and Bellingham\, WA. He enjoys early music\, opera and theater. \nHeather Fathali.\nHeather Fathali joined Cascadia Cross-Border Law after receiving her Juris Doctor degree from Seattle University School of Law in May 2014\, graduating summa cum laude.  Heather is a member of the Washington State Bar Association and her practice focuses on citizenship and immigration matters. \nDuring law school\, Heather served as judicial extern to Justice Charles W. Johnson at the Washington State Supreme Court; and also completed externships with two immigration non-profit organizations: the Ronald A. Peterson Law Clinic’s Immigration Clinic\, where she represented asylum applicants detained at the Tacoma Northwest Detention Center; and Catholic Community Services Family Immigration\, where she provided immigration and citizenship assistance to low-income residents of Washington State. \nHeather is a native of Bellingham\, WA. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Cultural Anthropology from Western Washington University\, and continues to be interested in the study of diverse cultures. She serves on the Board of Directors for the Whatcom Literacy Council\, a non-profit organization dedicated to increasing literacy and English language skills for adults in Whatcom County. She is a PADI-certified advanced scuba diver\, and enjoys traveling\, photography\, and spending time with her family and her dogs.
URL:https://www.soundimmigration.com/event/across-line-advocacy-u-s-ports-entry/
LOCATION:Webinar only
CATEGORIES:Webinar
ORGANIZER;CN="Sound Immigration":MAILTO:greg@soundimmigration.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20170329T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20170329T130000
DTSTAMP:20260409T020656
CREATED:20170216T060123Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20170217T033326Z
UID:2662-1490788800-1490792400@www.soundimmigration.com
SUMMARY:Administrative Processing: Alternatives to Waiting
DESCRIPTION:Your client has waited for over a year to bring a loved relative to the United States. The last hurdle has come\, the day of the immigrant visa interview. The interview passes and you get a panicked call\, “the consular officer said we have to wait for a decision!” A week passes\, no news. Two weeks pass\, no news. You write the immigrant visa unit and ask what is going on and get the dreaded response\, “the case is pending administrative processing. When administrative processing is required\, the timing will vary based on the individual circumstances of each case.”  Rather than pulling out your hair and gnashing your teeth\, this webinar will go over techniques to identify the problem\, calm the client down\, and speed up the process.\n\n\nHow to avoid administrative processing (e.g.\, preloading your case).\nWhen to wait and for how long.\nHow to identify the potential problem.\nExploring and exhausting your remedies.\nPossibilities for litigation.\n\n\nAbout our presenter.\n \nJay Gairson is an immigration and national security attorney in Seattle\, Washington.  His clients are primarily from the Middle East\, East Africa\, and South Asia.  He regularly handles cases that receive additional fraud detection and national security review.  He uses systems thinking to evaluate government programs and strategize solutions to problems that appear to be otherwise intractable.  He graduated in 2010 cum laude from Seattle University.  He has served on several professional committees including AILA Washington’s Executive Committee and is highly involved in community groups. \n\nRegister here
URL:https://www.soundimmigration.com/event/administrative-processing-alternatives-waiting/
LOCATION:Webinar only
CATEGORIES:Webinar
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.soundimmigration.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Gairson.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20170403T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20170403T130000
DTSTAMP:20260409T020656
CREATED:20170331T001155Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20170331T032352Z
UID:2791-1491220800-1491224400@www.soundimmigration.com
SUMMARY:Recognizing Immigration Issues in Your Practice
DESCRIPTION:Thank you to the Skagit County Bar Association for having me up north to speak at their monthly CLE. This page contains slides and related materials for the live event. \nSlides for the program.\n  \n Recognizing immigration issues  from Greg McLawsen\n\nAdditional materials.\n\nABA I-864 Article. Published in the ABA Family Law Journal\, this article gives an overview of the Form I-864\, Affidavit of Support\, aimed at matrimonial lawyers.\nI-9 blog post. Originally published in the Pierce County Bar Newsletter\, this post describes the need to comply with the Form I-9 employment authorization rules.\n2015_03_10_Mistaken_Beliefs. This short article\, published by the King County Bar Newsletter\, describes misperceptions about immigrants and immigration law.
URL:https://www.soundimmigration.com/event/recognizing-immigration-issues-practice/
LOCATION:Skagit Food Co-op\, Room 309\, 202 S. First St.\, Mount Vernon\, WA\, 202 S. First St.\, Mount Vernon\, WA\, 98273\, United States
CATEGORIES:CLE
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.soundimmigration.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/2017-03-30_1648.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20170419T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20170419T110000
DTSTAMP:20260409T020656
CREATED:20170330T222150Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20170330T222150Z
UID:2782-1492596000-1492599600@www.soundimmigration.com
SUMMARY:Advising LPRs on foreign travel
DESCRIPTION:Whew – your client has finally made it through the lengthy immigrant visa process. Or she’s nailed the adjustment interview and at long last has her green card in hand. What’s the first thing the client wants to do? Often\, they want to pack their bags and go on a trip.How should you advise your clients? \nHow should you advise your client? \nLPRs are permitted to travel abroad. But as is often the case\, the devil is in the details. A blasé approach to foreign travel can jeopardize the client’s future ability to naturalize\, or even lead to abandonment of LPR status altogether. Moreover\,  foreign travel can seek especially risky given the current immigration environment. \nIn this seminar we will cover: \n\nContinuity of residence for purposes of naturalization.\nUnderstanding LPR abandonment – substantive and procedural aspects.\nHow to advise on the risks of foreign travel in the changing environment of the Trump administration.\n\nPlease join us! \nRegister here (free)
URL:https://www.soundimmigration.com/event/advising-lprs-foreign-travel/
LOCATION:Webinar only
CATEGORIES:Webinar
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.soundimmigration.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Apr..png
ORGANIZER;CN="Sound Immigration":MAILTO:greg@soundimmigration.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20170426T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20170426T130000
DTSTAMP:20260409T020656
CREATED:20170203T010607Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20170203T010607Z
UID:2584-1493208000-1493211600@www.soundimmigration.com
SUMMARY:Understanding a spouse's right to immigration financial support
DESCRIPTION:When a non-citizen gets divorced\, she may be left with little means of support. Language barriers can make employment difficult\, and many types of public assistance are unavailable. But many may be eligible to receive financial compensation from their (former) spouse\, if the spouse was a visa sponsors. \nUnder immigration law in effect since 1996\, certain non-citizens are entitled to financial support from their visa sponsor. In virtually all family-based immigration cases\, the sponsor is required to file a Form I-864\, Affidavit of Support. By signing the Form I-864\, the sponsor promises to ensure that the immigrant has income at or above 125% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. This obligation lasts until the immigrant becomes a U.S. citizen\, is credited with 40 work quarters\, leaves the US under certain circumstances\, or dies. \nBut divorce does not end the sponsor’s support obligation. For this reason\, some immigrants can use the Form I-864 to recover financial support from abusive spouses\, even when a divorce court would be unable to award alimony. \nIt is important for family law attorneys to understand the support rights of the Form I-864. This support can provide crucial resources to clients who are transitioning to self-sufficiency. Form I-864 support may be available to clients who would normally not qualify for public benefits. \nThis training will help family law attorneys identify clients/survivors who might be able to benefit from the Form I-864. Learn easy questions that can be added to your intake procedure to screen for potential eligibility. Learn to assess the scope of support to which an individual may be entitled\, and how enforcement works. \nRegister here (free)
URL:https://www.soundimmigration.com/event/understanding-spouses-right-immigration-financial-support/
LOCATION:Webinar only
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.soundimmigration.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/NO.2-GUIDE.png
ORGANIZER;CN="Sound Immigration":MAILTO:greg@soundimmigration.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20170531T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20170531T130000
DTSTAMP:20260409T020656
CREATED:20170519T163332Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20170519T163332Z
UID:2973-1496232000-1496235600@www.soundimmigration.com
SUMMARY:Tax Issues for Immigration Lawyers
DESCRIPTION:Wednesday\, May 31\, 2017 at 12:00 PM (PST)\nWhen it comes to getting your clients to the United States you’re the master. But what happens when that conversation turns to the client’s financial planning? Global migration can lead to some tricky tax situations which may not always get the attention they deserve. In this webinar\, senior accountants from Moss Adams LLP will address some tax issues that every immigration lawyer should be aware of. \nIn this presentation\, our speakers will discuss planning for entry into the U.S. tax system\, including a high level overview of income\, and estate and gift tax considerations. We will address the U.S. foreign disclosure rules and the US anti-deferral regimes. And we will briefly touch on tax planning prior to surrender of U.S. citizenship or long-term permanent resident status. Please join us! \nRegister here (free)\nPresentation outline.\nEstate and Gift Tax Issues. \n\nPlanning for move to U.S.\nEstate/gift tax residency.\nEstate/gift tax applicability for NRA’s and for U.S. residents.\nPlanning for U.S. gift/estate tax applicability – considerations of trusts/gifting before a move.\nPlanning for the U.S. foreign disclosure rules – streamlining/consolidation of foreign assets/entities before a move.\n\nConsiderations Prior to moving to U.S. \n\nConsiderations related to negotiating compensation arrangements/benefits/tax equalization agreements/etc. before moving to the U.S.\n\nDetermining taxation and differences of taxation for U.S. residents vs. non-residents. \n\nU.S./State taxation of foreign nationals.\nU.S. residency vs non-residency for income tax purposes.\nU.S. taxation of U.S. persons vs NRAs.\nSubstantial Presence Test.\nCloser Connection Exception.\nDual Status Returns.\nFirst Year Elections.\n\nOur guest speakers.\nSatoko Valdes\, Senior Manager\, Moss Adams LLP. \nSatoko has been providing inbound international tax compliance and consulting services since 1996. She has managed inbound and outbound corporations and individual tax returns\, tax equalizations\, and international consultations.  Prior to joining Moss Adams\, Satoko led the Japanese tax practice of a Big Four firm’s Seattle office.  Satoko is a board member of  the Japan America Society\,  a member of  the Japan Business Association and the Tax Advisory Board of Golden Gate University. \nStephanie Hathaway\, Tax Partner\,  Moss Adams LLP. \nStephanie is a leader in the firm’s International Tax and Private Client Services practices. Her experience includes over twenty years in public accounting and ten years in business management and administration. Stephanie works closely with international legal\, accounting and financial professionals to coordinate cross-border planning and compliance for individuals\, trusts\, estates\, and closely held businesses. In addition\, she has presented on a wide variety of international topics for Moss Adams professionals and for outside organizations. In 2000 Stephanie received the Moss Adams Technical Excellence Award in Taxation for consulting and analysis regarding the expatriation provisions of Internal Revenue Code Section 877A and for preparing Private Letter Ruling requests under Section 877A for individuals giving up US citizenship or US long-term permanent resident status. \nBrian Steuber\, Partner\,  Moss Adams LLP. \nBrian Steuber has been in public accounting for over 22 years\, with experience related to individual income tax matters\, focusing specifically on international assignment and private client tax services.  Prior to joining Moss Adams\, he has spent his entire career within the Big 4. \nBrian has worked with small to large Fortune 50 clients with respect to their international assignment programs addressing the complex individual tax planning and compliance matters\, corporate reporting and withholding issues\, tax-efficient delivery of compensation in multiple jurisdictions\, tax reimbursement schemes and cross-border equity issues.  He has also provided wealth management services to ‘C-Suite’ and other key executives regarding stock options\, equity transaction planning\, AMT tax planning\, and other complex investment tax issues and structuring.
URL:https://www.soundimmigration.com/event/tax-issues-immigration-lawyers/
LOCATION:Webinar only
CATEGORIES:Webinar
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.soundimmigration.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Tax-issues-for-immigration-lawyers.png
ORGANIZER;CN="Sound Immigration":MAILTO:greg@soundimmigration.com
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END:VCALENDAR