On June 16, 2021, the Attorney General issued two new decisions in Matter of A–B–, 28 I&N Dec. 199 (A.G. 2021) and Matter of L–E–A–, 28 I&N Dec. 304 (A.G. 2021) that vacated Matter of A-B- I and II and Matter of L-E-A- II.  Pending forthcoming rulemaking, the decisions caused a full reversion to prior precedent and have left practitioners in a whirlwind as they review prior case law and reformulated arguments. Panelists will discuss the legal changes in asylum matters and what cases practitioners should rely on now. Additionally, panelists will discuss Particular Social Group (PSG) formulations in light of these new changes. 

Amelia Steadman McGowan,

Panelists will provide an overview of the most recent changes in case law from the United States Supreme Court and the impact on practioners before EOIR. The panel will take an in-depth examination of the Niz-Chavez court ruling and Motions to Reopen before various immigration courts and the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA). Key concepts relating to practice before EOIR in this new era. 

Logan Luquette,

Matt Boles,

Deputy Chief Counsel, Charles Wall will hold an open forum with the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) Midsouth Chapter Members, allowing members to voice concerns and discuss changes and policies pertaining to the Office of Chief Counsel (OCC), Department of Homeland Security. 

Charles Wall,

Panelists will discuss the procedures and intricacies of filing BIA appeals and Petition for Reviews before the Federal Circuit Courts.  Fighting your case on appeal has never been more pertinent than now. This seminar will examine how to establish appeal records, how to avoid issue preclusion, and what is considered “challengeable” with the Circuit Court. 

Alicia Triche,

Brandon Riches,

The authors of AILA’s newest book, Ari Sauer and Greg Siskind, discuss what systems you can implement in your practice to speed up work on your cases and improve the outcomes. Learn how using checklists, case cheatsheets, standardized questionnaires, templates and other tools can help improve your outcomes and how you can incorporate them into your case management systems to gain even greater efficiencies. 

Ari J. Sauer,

Greg Siskind,

Diversity and Inclusion is a buzz word that seems to be everywhere right now, but why does it matter to your practice? This panel will discuss the basics of D&I and how those principles can be applied to make your practice better than ever. 

Erika Gonzalez,

Vanita Fleckinger,

According to the United States Department of State, the COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect routine visa operations at the U.S. consulates and embassies across the world. Moreover, the NVC has announced that Employment Visas are at the bottom of the totem pole when it comes to visa processing and NIEs and “Emergency” appointments keep getting delayed and delayed. When will immigrants and their respective representatives begin to see U.S. consulates and embassies push cases through and schedule interviews? How can representatives expedite client cases and what is considered an emergency situation?  How do you get your client’s workers here ASAP in this climate? This series will focus on tips to navigate through the complex backlog presented in consular processing matters before the Department of State and before the National Visa Center. 

Stephen Pattison,

Lily S. Axelrod,

You're a lawyer, a high-achiever, a top performer. You’ve always been responsible for juggling it all and bouncing back from challenges. Yet it's become harder to be resilient in this pandemic world of ours. Are you stressed, overwhelmed and struggling to find balance in your law practice? Join us for an interactive session about the key essentials of resiliency to be empowered in the practice of law. Come experience firsthand how to rewire your mind to cultivate resilience, increase focus, clarity, and productivity while getting out of overwhelm and reducing stress and anxiety. You’ll learn how to live the definition of resilience: “The capacity to prepare for, recover from and adapt in the face of stress, adversity, trauma, or tragedy.” You will learn how engaging in a daily practice that can deepen your ability to: Increase your resilience capacity and know how to charge your inner battery, self-regulate stress responses and make clearer choices, work effectively with difficult opposing counsel, enhance conflict resolution and negotiating skills, master stress management by decreasing stress and anxiety and improving overall well-being. This hour presentation will include interactive exercises and open discussion. You can expect an exploration of resiliency building practices.

Lexlee Overton,

With a Biden administration in power, for the first time in years we can dream a little about how to fix this broken immigration system. How can you harness this energy and help move forward with positive change? What are the policies that we need to be advocating for at the local to national level internally at USCIS and with congress? How can individual members contribute to the vibrancy of our liaison efforts? This panel will discuss all of the above along with effective packaging for your message depending on the forum.

Flávia Moody,

There has been a tidal wave of new policies and case law affecting U Visa Adjudication. This panel will focus on what you need to know in order to best serve your current and potential clients. Featured Topics in this discussion will include new bona fide determination process including Deferred Action and how to monitor your client’s case, ethical implications of communicating with your client, lengthy backlog, the recent changes and how those may change considering the change of administration, Medina Tovar v Zuchowski and its effects around the country to derivative status and the OPLA memo and whether assistance to law enforcement is sufficient for prosecutorial discretion. 

Brittany Thomas Faith,

Jeremy Anderson,

Mario Ramos,