Immigration software news and updates.

In 2016, we set out to build modern software that immigration lawyers love.

This month, after many years of development and growing our customer base to over ten thousand immigration practitioners, we’re thrilled to be recognized as the #1 most used immigration case management software in AILA’s Marketplace Study 2022 according to Law360.com.

Docketwise is the #1 choice for Immigration Case Management Software

Docketwise is now the preferred immigration case management software for lawyers handling immigration cases.

This recognition is a proud milestone. 

Founded by immigration lawyers, we’ve worked hard to help thousands of fellow immigration lawyers become more efficient and impact more lives by offering:

• fantastic customer service
• multilingual intakes that dynamically generate complete immigration applications
• comprehensive case management and CRM
• integrations that create better workflows

Thanks to our Customers 

How have we gotten here? By listening to our customers. We obsessively track every suggestion from immigration lawyers that use Docketwise and build the most popular requests.  This attentiveness to our users’ needs has enabled us to help practitioners:

• reduce case preparation time by 50% (read the case study)
• work smarter, not harder, with comprehensive case management (read the case study)
• meet the special needs of specific practices, like nonprofit organizations (read the case study)

Schedule a Docketwise Demo

Not using Docketwise yet?  Schedule a demo to discover why thousands of your peers have already switched to our immigration software.  

We’ll spend time learning about your practice, then walk you through how Docketwise can make you a more efficient and modern immigration lawyer.

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In previous articles we’ve focused on marketing your immigration law firm using digital marketing and social media, partly because these tools allow you to reach a much wider audience than, for example, your community or nearby geographic area, and partly because during COVID, that was the only way to reach prospective clients at all. Now that in-person events are coming back, however, it’s time to talk about how in-person events can be yet another tool in your marketing toolbox and how you can leverage them to expand your network and connect with new clients. 

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Event marketing has long been a key way for businesses in general to put themselves out into the world, build connections with their target audience and community in real life, and otherwise grow their brand. Indeed, in the immigration law context, the goal of event marketing would be to provide information about your legal services, perhaps answer specific questions, try to schedule consultations to further discuss cases with potential clients in more detail, better understand a potential customer’s Customer Lifetime Value (CLV), and ultimately to close new business.

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So, this blog will dive into some background information about event marketing, share some event ideas a family-based immigration law firm can organize, and similarly share ideas for business immigration law firms as well. Let’s dive in.

Some general thoughts about event marketing. 

Hosting an event to market your law firm doesn’t have to be an open-ended event for anyone who walks through your door. The goal behind event marketing is to create an event specifically for your target audience and make sure that event enables that target audience to connect and engage with you, learn about you and your work, and network with one another.

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Indeed, in-person events can help you create lasting connections with your target clients or, if you organize an event with another immigration law firm, you can build a stronger relationship with that firm as well. You may not gain a new paying client at every event and with every interaction, but you might get some email addresses to add to your law firm newsletter, some additional social media followers or simply contact information for you to follow up with in the future.

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And don’t worry, promoting more than one law firm or otherwise partnering with another business doesn't have to dilute your brand. For example, if you practice family-based immigration and focus on Green Cards and citizenship, you can partner with someone who focuses on asylum to have broader expertise in the room. Alternatively, if you practice employment-based immigration, you can team up with a real estate agent to promote - you can show that ideal clients how you can help them navigate their employment-based immigration law case and your partner organizer can explain how their services help relocating families finding an ideal place to live. 

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Let’s go through some examples of in-person events you can organize or be part of to help market your immigration law firm and build both potential professional connections and client connections as well. We’ll split our recommendations based on whether you practice family-based or employment-based immigration law.

Event marketing ideas for family-based immigration attorneys

Let’s start with family-based immigration: in this field, your events should have more of a “community feel.” What might that look like? Here are some ideas:

• A free-of-charge gathering involving food: This could be a breakfast, coffee, or lunch that you hold at your office, the public library, a community center, or another local public venue. It doesn’t have to be fancy - even just some coffee and pastries (bonus points if the pastries are from a local, immigrant-owned business!) that you can do to get people in the door. As the host and organizer of the event you can make an announcement, share some information about you and your firm, or otherwise come up with something that would tie the event into the kind of cases your law firm handles.

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• A language-specific immigration Q&A: If you live in a community with a large immigrant population speaking a language other than English, another idea is to set up a free immigration Q&A session in their language. Immigrants who are not fluent in English may be wary of the immigration process and of engaging with immigration lawyers who don’t speak their language. If you speak a second language, connecting with your local community in person, in that language, can be really powerful. 

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• Organize or sponsor an event with a performer or artist from the community: Whether you choose to support a local artist or you’re able to sponsor or host someone famous or respected from a particular community’s home country, this will create excitement around the event with the added benefit that it brings extra eyes on you and your services. Make sure that people know what your role behind it is, who you are, and what you can do for them as an immigration lawyer.

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Ultimately, if you’re able to set up a space where things like cost, language, etc., are removed as barriers, that can help build trust within your community and increase awareness of both your services and the value you bring to the community as an immigration lawyer. As mentioned above, you can host small events at your office, local library or religious community center, or if you have a bigger budget, you can rent out a hall, auditorium or arena. Ultimately, the goal is to get a certain group of people in one place and deliver value. The rest of the pieces will fall into place.

Event marketing ideas for employment-based immigration lawyers.

The focus and the ambience of your events is going to change depending on your area of practice. If you’re using events to market your business immigration services, here are some ideas.

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• Organize an industry happy hour: An industry-specific, after-work activity gives attendees the opportunity to “talk shop” in a relaxed atmosphere while getting to know each other on a personal level as well. This is a great opportunity to showcase and support a small business, like a local brewery or restaurant, for example, and bonus points if it’s immigrant-owned as well. Consider sponsoring one or two free drinks for anyone who arrives, arrange a special discount for attendees for the duration of your event, or otherwise make the happy hour special with some kind of freebie. Depending on how the event is set up you can then determine whether and how you’d like to introduce yourself and your law firm. Maybe you get on a stage for a moment if it’s a large group, or make a toast if it’s a small one. Or maybe you don’t say anything during the event and let the promotion itself do the work. 

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• Host a panel discussion on an industry topic: Specifically, reach out to and gather a few guest speakers from your industry who can provide insight, advice or other useful information that would be valuable enough to draw a crowd from the industry. A few examples of locations that may be a good fit for a panel session include your office, a conference room in a co-working space or a university library or auditorium. Ultimately, it should be a place where people can have a discussion and engage with the panelists by asking questions and getting answers. If you can invite current clients as panelists and have your audience learn from them, that indirectly benefits you as well.

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• Attend in-person conferences! Whether you simply attend an industry conference to go to sessions and casually network, pay for a booth where attendees can visit and engage with you, or get invited or otherwise sign up to speak and share your knowledge and experience, industry conferences can be a powerful way to pick up new clients. Importantly, you’re going beyond immigration law conferences and rather focusing on conferences related to your clients’ industries. For example, if you handle immigration for real estate companies or hospitals, attend a real estate conference or healthcare industry symposium to meet prospective clients that align with your current expertise and may be impressed by your existing book of business. 

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Oh, and for more ideas on how to actually get to speak at these conferences, check out our three favorite ways to secure speaking engagements as an immigration lawyer on our blog.

Manage your immigration law firm’s growth with Docketwise

Whether your marketing happens online or in person, effective marketing leads to growth. And to manage your growth in a way that makes sense to you and helps you save time and stay organized, it’s important to use a case management system that allows you to scale.

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At Docketwise, we’ve built an immigration case management, forms management and CRM platform that suits law firms of all specialities and sizes. We pride ourselves on our entrepreneurial spirit, our focus on building features for all types of clients, and our industry-first open API that allows our users to connect Docketwise to a number of other platforms. 

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If you’re new to Docketwise, and would like to try and see if it’s a good fit for your firm, schedule a demo on our website today.

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If you’re an existing Docketwise client, thank you for preferring us for your immigration case management needs!

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Almost every immigration lawyer knows their “why” when it comes to being in the industry - helping people. Perhaps it’s because they or a family member immigrated to the United States. Perhaps it’s because they have seen firsthand the positive impact timely and knowledgeable help can have in people’s lives. Rarely is money the reason immigration lawyers get into the industry.

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Sometimes this leads to ignoring the financial realities of successfully practicing as an immigration lawyer, offering rates that are too low, or just not feeling comfortable discussing money at all. However it’s important to consider in a sober and unemotional way what low rates can mean, such as creating a situation where you are overworking to make ends meet, being unable to pay for additional staff or necessary software, or worse, worrying about your own financial well-being. As you can imagine, this can ultimately result in your clients not getting the best version of you. 

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So in this article, we’re discussing the issue of money mindset for immigration lawyers. Whether it’s undercharging, feeling uncomfortable with raising your rates, or simply not knowing how to scale your services in order to be more financially secure, adopting the right money mindset can determine whether your immigration practice succeeds or fails. 

Your relationship with money affects your life

When you consider that, according to a study in 2015, money is the biggest stressor for people, the importance of cultivating a healthy relationship with money becomes apparent. Money is tied to every person’s basic needs and our most primal feelings, such as feeling secure and shaping our sense of belonging amongst our peers and in society in general.

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Moreover, the negative effects of worrying about money not only cause stress in your personal life and relationships, but also may affect your productivity at work. As an immigration lawyer, you know that in order to offer the best service, you have to be at your best. If you’re worried, in the back of your mind, that your firm is not making enough to support itself, that stress may seep through to your work and, in the long run, affect your current work product and future growth, ultimately perpetuating the cycle of anxiety over money. 

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One of the simplest ways of ensuring your firm’s income meets your expectations and adequately compensates your work is to price your services appropriately. Since you’re in control of your rates, it’s part of your management responsibilities to adjust your fees to ensure you’re not undercharging. Let’s go over how you can go through the process of either establishing, raising, or adjusting your fees.

Adjusting your immigration law services and rates

The two main levers you can pull to increase your law firm’s income are to charge more for existing work or take on more work, or some combination of the two. Let’s look at a few ways you can approach these two sides of the same coin. 

Offer higher-priced services in addition to your current services

Adding higher-priced services gives you the option of increasing your revenue with new offerings while keeping your current prices with existing services. This way you can continue working with your current client base at the rates you currently feel comfortable with while developing a new client base that needs and can pay for your new, higher-priced services. While there are many options of higher-priced services you can offer, and this list is by no means complete or exhaustive, a few examples may include working on PERM, EB-5, O-1 or EB-1A business immigration cases. Outside of the business immigration context, more complicated removal or asylum cases, or family-based cases with non-routine complications justify higher fees than straightforward cases of the same type. And if you’re a family-based immigration lawyer and don’t currently offer any business immigration services, check out our blog on getting started with business immigration to explore ways you can expand your practice. 

Raise your rates slightly for your current immigration services

All businesses have to adjust their pricing from time to time. In these inflationary times we’re seeing businesses raise prices across industries, so it makes sense to adjust your rates as your costs rise, too. The other reason raising your rates in small increments over time makes sense is because ultimately, money represents compensation for your time, your knowledge and your experience. As you become more knowledgeable and experienced, it’s fair to regularly raise your rates, even if slightly, to account for that depth of knowledge and experience. Be sure to communicate your price increases with enough time and through all your communication channels, explain to your existing clients when any increases will apply and otherwise be transparent and understanding. 

Raise your rates considerably to attract new types of clients

By raising your rates dramatically and appropriately marketing your services to prospective clients who may be able to pay those rates, your law firm can make more money doing the type of work you’re already doing now. It’s common for professionals to not feel like they “deserve” to get paid a certain amount or be afraid that raising their rates dramatically can hurt their business by scaring clients away, but it’s been shown that raising prices can actually be good for marketing, including for immigration attorneys. And if you want to continue to service clientele that may not be able to pay your new, considerably higher fees, consider this: you can potentially now offer those services at perhaps even lower rates, or pro bono, since your newly increased revenue can offset that work. This way you can both have the ability to make more money by charging more to your new client base while being even more accessible to current clients who may not be able to pay.

If you offer payment plans, consider revisiting your terms

Immigration attorneys often offer payment plans, which make their services more accessible. Part of the reality of offering payment plans, however, is that some percentage of your clients may take longer than you’ve planned to pay you back, thus leaving you with less cash on hand than you expected, or may not fully pay you back at all, leaving you to foot part of their bill. With that in mind, if you offer payment plans and experience some of these issues, consider revisiting your payment plan terms and figure out ways to make them less risky for your firm. For example, ask clients to pay more up front or set them up with electronic payment processing to ensure you get paid on time. 

A new money mindset leads to growth - let Docketwise grow with you.

Once you start generating more revenue by raising or adjusting your rates, you’ll be able to invest that revenue into growing your team and your client base. If you do, having a case management system that supports that growth is crucial. 

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At Docketwise, our robust CRM, full immigration forms library, easy-to-use client questionnaires and industry-leading API integrations helps you stay up-to-date on your growing immigration caseload, communicate easily with all your clients, and otherwise build and manage your law firm’s growth and evolution.

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If you want to learn more about Docketwise, schedule a demo at the link below, or sign up for our Immigration Briefings newsletter for daily and weekly immigration updates!

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We’ve spoken at length in previous articles about how you can leverage social media to establish yourself as an expert and connect with existing and potential clients. When it comes to video content, longer videos were the more prevalent form of content used in online marketing and on social media. Think long informational videos, interviews and more.

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Over time, however, this has changed, and today short-form video content, with its minimal time commitment and clever editing, has become an increasingly popular form of online content. This is true to such an extent that many social media platforms, even those that used to focus on other forms of online content, have added short-form video features to keep up with trends.

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In this article we’re going to look at what short form video is, provide an overview of how online video changed over time, and offer some information on how to optimize your use of short-form video to grow your immigration law firm’s brand. 

What is short form video and where does it come from?

Typically, videos are classified as “short-form” when they are a minute long or shorter. Short-form video started to pick up popularity in the early 2000s with the once-popular but now defunct Vine, which started the short-form video trend on social media. One of the main reasons this format became so popular was because the short length required creators to push the boundaries of creativity to synthesize their messaging into a very short amount of time while still being engaging, informative, etc.

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Although Vine is no longer here, short-form video has not only survived, but has also thrived. From Snapchat and TikTok, both of which started as a short-form social video apps (although the maximum time for videos on the platform has recently increased to 10 minutes), to Instagram Reels, Facebook Watch and even to YouTube Shorts, which was introduced in 2021, short form video is dominating social media today.

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But just because short-form video is trending in society at large, does that mean that you as an immigration attorney should start creating TikTok videos? Well, in short, we think the answer may be yes, and here’s why.

Why you should consider short-form video as a marketing tool for your immigration law firm and some tips on getting started.

Here are some reasons you should consider incorporating short-form video into your immigration law firm marketing strategy.

Short-form videos are easy to make but can pack a lot of value.

Don’t be fooled into thinking that the brevity of these videos implies you have to sacrifice on quality or value. While short-form videos are meant to be straightforward, with clever editing they can still be engaging and informative. Indeed, the goal is to give your audience one piece of information or actionable advice that they can take with them and then entice them to either reach out to you or engage with other content you might have that may be longer or more detailed. Think of it as an entry point to you and your knowledge, not the whole thing.

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The appeal of short-form content lies in its relatability: it should feel like you’re just sharing something interesting with a friend. A good place to start for short-form videos could be by providing concise answers to frequent questions. You can provide short answers to topics you’ve explained in longer videos, provide quick updates on immigration law or policy changes, or provide a lawyer’s perspective on current events. To increase engagement, ask your audience for their opinions in the comments and remind them to share the video with someone else who may find it helpful. 

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Short-form videos can also be a way to build a more relatable side to your professional social media presence, letting your audience see a bit more of your personality, maybe even some of your personal story if it’s part of your “why” when it comes to practicing immigration law.

Short-form video allows for quick trial, error, and pivoting

One of the hardest parts of building an audience online is figuring out what content will connect with them. Since a short-form video can, in theory, take just minutes to create, if something doesn’t work out (e.g. doesn’t get any engagement), you can always delete it and try a new idea without much loss of time, and with a rapid feedback loop of what works and what doesn’t. 

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If you’re still not convinced, here is something else to consider: given the popularity of short-form video as a marketing strategy across all industries at the moment, not giving it a try is potentially a missed opportunity to grow your firm and reach a new audience. YouTube Shorts is not even the most popular of these short-form video formats present on social media, but in its first month, it reported billions of views. There’s a reason why short-form video is increasingly becoming a go-to digital marketing strategy across industries and on all the various platforms where it’s available. 

Short-form video content is trending right now.

Before you reject the idea of doing something “just because it’s trendy,” remember that the goal of using social media to share your knowledge about immigration law is to get yourself in front of people who may benefit from your knowledge and experience and, hopefully, convert some of them into clients. Most likely, the online platform of your choice already has a short-form video integration: Instagram has Reels, YouTube has Shorts, and TikTok and Snapchat are made for short-form videos from the start.

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As more lawyers across industries catch up on social media marketing in general, keeping up with trends such as video marketing is the best way to stay ahead of the curve and keep your law firm relevant. Given the rising popularity of short-form video and the relatively low cost of getting started, it’s worth a try.

Docketwise helps you streamline your practice so you can spend more time creating video content.

Social media marketing allows you to continue growing your immigration law firm and show your ability to connect with people as technology changes and societal trends change with it. As you grow and support more clients along their immigration journey, you’ll need a case management system equally as adaptable. 

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From a full library of immigration forms to client questionnaires in multiple languages to an industry-leading set of API integrations, Docketwise helps you stay up to date on all your cases, communicate easily with your clients, and otherwise build and manage your firm.

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If you want to learn more about Docketwise, schedule a demo at the link below, or sign up for our Immigration Briefings newsletter for daily and weekly immigration updates!

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US immigration has long had family reunification as a policy imperative. Ever since the Immigration and Naturalization Act of 1965, which prioritized family-based immigration, the bulk of immigrants coming to the United States have come through a family-based immigrant visa. Thus it makes sense that many immigration lawyers focus their practice on family-based cases. 

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Over time, though, employment-based immigration in the US has grown tremendously, especially as the number of immigrants working in high-skilled positions continues to rise, according to the Pew Research Center. The United States continues to be a leading destination for businesses around the world, and employers turn to immigrants more and more as they require a growing labor force. That means a continuously growing demand for business immigration services in the United States. 

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If you have primarily worked in family-based immigration up to this point, business immigration can be an extraordinary opportunity for you as an immigration lawyer to broaden your expertise and become a more versatile lawyer. But getting that first business immigration case can be tough. So, in this article, we’re going to look at how you can expand your family immigration law practice into the business immigration space.

Three steps to start building a business immigration practice

To start building your business immigration track record, the steps you’ll take may be similar to what you may have done in the past to get clients, but with a focus on employment-based cases. Let’s start with your former clients: 

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1. Your past family immigration clients may be able to recommend you to businesses that need immigration help. Word of mouth is still one of the most powerful marketing strategies, so don’t be afraid to ask former clients if they know someone who may need business immigration support, whether an individual (e.g. who has questions around an EB green card) or a company (that may be looking to sponsor a worker). Remember that any referrals your clients bring to the table are part of what you calculate as a Customer’s Lifetime Value, which goes beyond what they could bring as an individual petitioner. And because that client was happy with your services, they’ll likely be happy to refer more business to you!

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2. Approach small businesses. Since you’re building your experience in business immigration, you’ll want to be deliberate and focused about how much you’re working on at a time. Focus on working with small businesses who may need help with just a handful of petitions so that you can work on them to completion without getting overwhelmed. And of course don’t neglect the rest of your practice amidst the excitement of this new opportunity! Not only to ensure that your existing clients continue to get the support they need, but also to give yourself time to familiarize yourself with this new area of immigration law.

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3. Add your new business immigration services to your website and other marketing platforms you may be using. Whether you’ve already worked on a particular business immigration case type, or you simply want to get into it, publicly advertising it is important to letting the world know about your new service. A few ways to do this include adding text to your website, posting about it across your social media channels, sharing it during speaking opportunities you may have, etc.

When you’re just starting to work on business immigration cases, leverage your network for support.

When you finally start working on business immigration cases, getting it right and building a successful track record is important. Luckily, there are ways in which you can get support along the way. Here are three of them.

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1. Mentorship: Given that business immigration is a new area for you, leverage the knowledge and experience of a mentor who has walked the path you’re just starting. If you don’t have a lawyer in your professional network that can mentor you on business immigration, check out your state bar association, your local AILA chapter to find out more about mentorship programs. 

2. Co-counseling: Another way in which you can learn closely from a more experienced lawyer is co-counseling. If you find someone to actively work with you on a new business immigration case, you get the benefit of having partial hands-on experience while learning from them at the same time.

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3. Continuing Legal Education (CLE) courses: Taking Continuing Legal Education courses on business immigration topics can help you become more familiar with the types of cases you may want to start taking on, at least on a theoretical / academic level. You may still want to co-counsel with someone more experienced or at least get mentored by them as you actually get started on your first cases. One great place to access immigration-specific CLEs is AILA University. 

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4. Specialized guides and reference books: Advance your learning about business immigration through books published by experienced attorneys. You can start with manuals and guides available at AILA or more specific books covering a particular visa type oftentimes published directly by practicing immigration attorneys. Some of these books go over procedures and applicable principles while others include practical items like templates you can use. All, however, are helpful.

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At the end of the day, expanding your immigration practice takes time and patience. Leveraging the above recommendations will surely give you a lot of knowledge to get started, but nothing beats rolling up your sleeves and simply getting at it. So if you’re thinking about expanding your family immigration practice into the business immigration world, the best advice is to just go for it!

Docketwise grows with you as your expand into business immigration

Whether you’re a family immigration lawyer trying to expand into business immigration, or if you already handle some business immigration cases, Docketwise has everything you need to manage any type of immigration case from one platform. And if you’re an existing Docketwise focused on family immigration expanding into the business immigration side, check out our On Demand Webinars to learn how you can use your Docketwise account for your new clients and visa types. In these videos we explain product updates and walk you through some of our most helpful features, like Smart Forms. 

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At the end of the day, Docketwise provides a robust CRM, full immigration forms library, easy-to-use client questionnaires and industry-leading API integrations, all of which can help you stay up-to-date on all your immigration cases, communicate easily with your clients, and otherwise build and manage your immigration law firm as you grow and evolve. 

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If you want to learn more about Docketwise, schedule a demo at the link below, or sign up for our Immigration Briefings newsletter for daily and weekly immigration updates!

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Developing your skills as a lawyer goes beyond the training you receive in law school, especially if you own your immigration law firm or are a partner and responsible for finding new clients and managing team members. From marketing to branding, to building your professional network, immigration law is a multifaceted occupation that leans on both hard legal skills and soft skills.

One of the best, yet rarely explored ways, of learning these important soft skills is improvisational theater, often known as just “improv.” Indeed, improv is a fantastic way to engage a person’s creative side and work on important soft skills in a low-risk environment that’s also fun.

In this article we’re going to learn a bit more about what improv is and how it came about and how improv can help you as a legal professional work on a variety of important soft skills to make you a better lawyer, advocate and law firm owner.

What is improv theater?

Improvisation theater, or improv as it’s more commonly known, goes as far back as Ancient Rome and, at its core, involves performing without a script. Improv has traditionally been closely tied to comedic performance, but it has in fact transcended the theater and is part of other forms of performing arts as well such as music, specifically jazz, and television and film through shows like Whose Line Is It Anyway and Curb Your Enthusiasm.

Today, we find that improv has gone beyond the context of art and performance and is now a professional development tool, too. The Second City, arguably one of the most famous improv theaters in the United States and Canada with such recognizable alumni as Tina Fey, Catherine O’Hara, Mike Myers, and Steve Carell, has a corporate training division focused on “using humor and authenticity to connect with employees.”

Other instances outside of performing arts where we see people using improv to better their communications skills include business schools and legal continuing education programs, to name a few. Improv demands, and thus teaches, flexibility, collaboration, and creative problem solving, gets you to exercise these skills in a low-stakes environment, and above all, is fun.

So how does improv work? Generally improv is a “no rules” kind of activity but there are a few key tenets worth knowing.

• Saying “Yes, and.” The cardinal principle of improv is “yes, and.” Meaning, accepting a situation or premise or set of facts that you’re given during an improv scene, saying “yes” to that information, and then adding to it, thereby moving the scene along.
• Active listening and collaborating with others. In order to create a successful improv scene, you have to actively listen to your scene partner in order to “yes, and” what they are saying and come up with your own lines, on the spot, to progress the show. Both active listening and collaboration are also crucial skills as an immigration lawyer - these two characteristics can transform your relationship with clients and build stronger professional relationships within your lawyer network.
• Showing your authentic self and getting comfortable with failure. The more comfortable you are in being yourself, the more authentic you will come across as to your current and prospective clients, partners, colleagues, etc. And when it comes to failure, the worst that can happen in an improv setting is that the audience doesn’t laugh at something you think might be funny. Exposing yourself to failure and uncomfortable situations can help you build resilience to face real life obstacles that come with immigration law practice.

Keeping these rules in mind, then, what are the benefits that improv can bring to immigration lawyers?

What are the benefits of improv for immigration lawyers?

Improv can benefit your professional practice - and even your personal life - as it helps you work on important life skills that incidentally make you a better immigration lawyer, too. Granted, improv is not the first thing that comes to mind when we think of professional development for attorneys, but if you do give it a try, here are some of the benefits you can expect to gain from improv that may be of value to you.

Improv builds your empathy

Empathy, or the ability to understand and share the feelings of another person, enables you as an immigration attorney to better understand and relate to your clients. The better you are at empathizing with your clients, the better you are as a provider. And when it comes to improv, it’s actually one of the best ways to build empathy. For example, the main tenet of “yes, and” requires you as an improv performer to listen intently, agree with your scene partner and validate what they’re saying by adding to it. Active listening, fundamental agreement and validation all help build empathy.

Improv helps you flex your creativity muscle

Whether you’re trying to market your law firm in a memorable way or you’re tackling a novel visa situation where there is little precedent or guidance from DHS, creativity is a major key to success. And because improv inherently requires participants to come up with ideas and dialogue on the spot, it requires participants to really flex and build their creativity muscle. How? Creativity requires taking risks with your ideas, and the only way to do that is to not have fear that your ideas will be judged. That’s where the “Yes, and” tenet of improv comes in - every idea is accepted and built upon, and that environment or support and collaboration fosters creativity. By practicing that on an improv stage, you build your creativity muscle and are then more easily able to bring that to your work as an immigration attorney.

Improv builds your communication skills

Improv relies on effective communication, both among those performing, and with the audience. Not only is it important for performers to be able to catch and interpret the audience’s cues, but those performing together need to fine tune their verbal and nonverbal communication skills to build upon each other’s ideas since improv performances are made up on the spot. Improv helps you build communication skills by teaching you to build rapport with others through purposeful, effective communication.

Improv is a fun way to build professional skills.

It's important to remember that work can have some elements of fun. Indeed, having at least some fun at work helps boost productivity and, in general, helps balance out other professional building activities you might already participate in, such as taking traditional CLEs, leadership courses and more. Simply put, adding improv into the mix of development workshops simply makes work more fun!

Docketwise streamlines your practice while you’re at improv class

In a world full of productivity hacks, tips, and tricks, leveraging improv as a tool can be just what you need to become more effective at work and to make work more fun at the same time. Well, at Docketwise, our entire workday revolves around creating the most complete and streamlined immigration case management system for immigration law firms of all sizes and across specialties.

From immigration forms, to electronic communication tools, payment features, and integrations with other useful tech platforms, Docketwise helps you stay up to date on all your immigration cases, communicate easily with your clients and team members, and otherwise build and manage your immigration law firm.

If you want to learn more about Docketwise, schedule a demo at the link below, or sign up for our Immigration Briefings newsletter for daily and weekly immigration updates!

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We recently wrote a more forward-looking article about how the evolution of the Internet — Web 3.0, and the metaverse — might impact the practice of immigration law in the future. But how does this new technology impact immigration today?

One thing to consider, when thinking about the intersection of Web 3.0 and US immigration law, is the question of which professionals need access to US immigration benefits to work on this very technology. Specifically, what kind of professionals might need what category of visas to work on Web 3.0 and metaverse projects?

The purpose of this article is to explore ways immigration attorneys today can work with clients on cases dealing, in one way or another, with the future of the Internet. As always, the list of specialties and visa types here isn’t exhaustive, but is a place to start for an immigration lawyer who wants to be in this vertical but isn’t sure where to start.

Four potential US visas for Web 3.0 professionals

Here are some visa types that may be used for different types of professionals within the Web 3.0 space, and some background context on each of them.

1. O-visa for NFT artists

NFTs, or Non-Fungible Tokens, are an original, unique piece of art with a traceable digital signature that asserts its originality. Meaning, if you own a NFT, you own the only one of its kind. Thanks to the ability to preserve their uniqueness, NFTs are becoming covetable pieces of art. Indeed, NFTs are fetching astronomically high selling prices and are even attracting the attention of large corporations: Visa, the credit card company, has launched the Visa Creator Program, which aims to support “a global cohort of creators including artists, musicians, fashion designers, and filmmakers” to further advance their businesses by developing NFTs.

Whether a form of art, or an e-commerce tool, NFTs are developed by individuals that could be considered “of extraordinary ability,” as described in the O visa description outlined by USCIS. A client with a proven track record of developing and selling art, whether traditional art of NFTs, could be a strong candidate for an O visa application as a NFT artist.

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2. P-1 visas for professional gamers and esports athletes

P visas are intended for ‘internationally recognized athletes', and up until recently, athletes were considered those who compete in more traditional sports, individually or as part of a team. However, the definition of ‘athlete’ is evolving thanks to the increase in competitiveness in esports, and their increasing global popularity. Esports, which is effectively the world of professional video games, is becoming a new frontier of competition, with competitions spanning the world and their participants starting to be recognized less as “gamers” and more as “athletes.”

USCIS set a precedent for recognizing a Canadian esports champion in the notable online multiplayer game League of Legends as an “internationally recognized athlete” and granted him a P visa in 2013. Up until this point, esport athletes had been granted visas to compete or appear in one-off events and not more extensive ones that would allow them to travel to the US to train and compete in larger competitions. The pathway to this recognition came about by establishing that esports tournaments meet the standard for competitions USCIS has established in other sports to consider participants as athletes. The standards include demonstrating that such competitions have rules, teams, and prize money that allows participants to make a living. The League of Legends World Championship, for example, came with a prize of around $2 million.

The esports industry continues to grow and is becoming more competitive and lucrative. Revenues in the esports space passed the $1 billion mark in 2020, clearly putting esports in the same league as more traditional competitive leagues, so it’s safe to expect that immigration opportunities for professional esports athletes will continue to open up.

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3. E-2 visas for crypto investors

E-2 visas are a staple of the investment visa space in the US. Designed to bring investors from countries holding trade treaties with the United States so they can invest establish businesses in the US, this program has been used both by investors and employees of major companies in the past. Since cryptocurrencies were created in the late 2000s, many individuals have made substantial earnings thanks to the increase in the value of cryptocurrencies.

Now, while there are no specific paths established in existing immigration law about cryptocurrency earnings specifically for E-2 visas, a client could potentially convert their crypto earnings into US currency to fulfill the investment requirements of the E-2 visa, or make an investment in one of a growing list of businesses that transact in cryptocurrency to fulfill the same requirement. Still, given that cryptocurrencies are not universally accepted across the US are not federal legal tender, it’s a good idea to look at cities that are especially crypto friendly such as Miami (which has gone as far as issuing its own cryptocurrency).

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4. EB-1A or EB-2 NIW for Web 3.0 engineers

Web 3.0 and metaverse-focused jobs are on the rise, and high-demand positions worldwide include User Experience (UX) engineers, app developers for iOS and Android, Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) technologies. STEM-focused professionals are traditionally sponsored for positions in the US through the H-1B visa, however, with the consistent sector-specific demand, current visa backlog, and per-country caps, this may not be the best option to sponsor a Web 3.0 employee and get them to work in the US in a timely manner. Thus, the EB-1A Extraordinary Ability and EB-2 National Interest Waiver immigration categories, which are awarded to individuals of “extraordinary ability” or who are doing important work “in the US national interest,” respectively, may be an option.

Immigration expert Sophie Alcorn emphasizes that both types of cases place a significant burden of proof on the applicant and their sponsoring employer: either they have a solid track record of success in “extraordinary accomplishments in the field” or that hiring them serves the US national interest. As technological advancement continues to be important to American progress, there may be a case to be made that building Web 3.0 technology within the US is indeed important to the country’s national interest.

Docketwise is sophisticated immigration case management for sophisticated immigration work

If you’re an immigration lawyer either already working on or interested in working on cases related to Web 3.0, you’re going to work with sophisticated applicants. You should keep up with them by having cutting edge immigration case management technology as well. With Docketwise, you get an industry-leading CRM, full library of immigration forms, easy-to-use client questionnaires and industry-leading API integrations, Docketwise helps you stay up to date on all your immigration cases, communicate easily with your clients, and otherwise build and manage your immigration law firm.

If you want to learn more about Docketwise, schedule a demo at the link below, or sign up for our Immigration Briefings newsletter for daily and weekly immigration updates!

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There are moments when it can feel like immigration law is moving at a considerably slower pace than the rest of the world. When you consider all the forms that have to be filed on paper, fees that have to be filed by check, interviews that have to be conducted in person, it may be difficult to wonder what immigration law might look like in a fully digital environment.

While immigration law might be moving relatively slowly, there is a lot of new technology out in the world right now, particularly technology that’s being used in other industries. So we wanted to do something different with this article. Specifically, we wanted to look at two of the latest tech trends — Web 3.0 and the metaverse — and imagine how immigration law might interact with them.

In this article, we’re going to cover, at a high level, what both Web. 3.0 and the metaverse are, their connection to each other, and how they might interact with immigration law in the future.

What is Web 3.0? In short, it’s a new version of the Internet.

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Web3 or Web 3.0 revolves around the idea of what some people call a decentralized Internet, or an internet where there are no middlemen involved. To understand what this means, though, we have to look back at how the Internet has progressed over the years since it was first meaningfully adopted by the public.

Web 1.0, or the Internet of the early days (the 90s and the early 2000s), provided access to information, but unless you knew exactly where you were going on the Internet, i.e. the exact URL of the information or site you were looking for, it was difficult to navigate. Search engines as we know them today were not as powerful or exact in their results, and it was generally difficult or impossible to interact with websites as they were mostly static, text-only pages. We did not yet have the companies that we know today as the larger players in the internet space, such as Google, Amazon, and Facebook, and so the Internet was only used by a relatively small number of people who were more tech-savvy.

Web 2.0 represents the rise of more interactive websites and, thus, web-based applications. Think about the companies commonly referred to as “Big Tech,” such as Amazon (e-commerce), Google (search engine and superior access to data), YouTube (online video broadcasting) and Facebook (MySpace and Facebook). These companies, over time, acquired others, which allowed them to dominate their specific spheres of online influence. This is one of the major criticisms about Big Tech - that they are too big and too powerful, that they don’t listen to their users, and that they compromise everything from the user experience to security for the bottom line. A quick online search will show you what happens when Instagram rolls a change that isn’t well received as a perfect illustration of this point. This, in part, has led to what is now called Web 3.0.

Thus, Web 3.0 represents not just information on the web that you can read and interact with, but now own as well. Web 3.0 is trying to deliver much the same experience Web 2.0, or ther Internet as we know it today, but with an emphasis on privacy and responsible use of data, specifically considered “decentralization.” According to a 2022 Forbes article, “Decentralization means internet users can transact business peer-to-peer, cutting out intermediaries and removing power from controlling entities. There is a greater focus on user privacy, transparency and ownership.”

What we are seeing in Web 3.0 is that the companies that we more typically associate with the Internet and became the building blocks of Web 2.0 are also dipping their toes into this new internet. This is where the concept of the metaverse comes into play.

What is the metaverse? A new reality?

Forbes defines the metaverse as, “a fully immersive internet, where we will be able to access augmented and virtual reality and interact with all sorts of environments using persistent avatars and innovative digital technology.”

The word metaverse first appeared in a 1992 science fiction novel titled Snow Crash by American writer Neal Stephenson. Today, general agreements on what the metaverse is include being digital-based and involving worlds that are created in digital spaces, and the ability to interact with others virtually, e.g. through avatars that look like us, or access services and activities in the digital world. Whether these are digital play worlds like the ones found in games like Minecraft, Roblox or Fortnite or professional work environments, like Meta’s (Facebook’s parent company) Workplace, the metaverse is, according to many, the next step in the evolution of the Internet.

How could the metaverse reshape my immigration law practice?

Now that we’ve gone through some basic definitions and background on both Web 3.0 and the metaverse, we’re finally at the fun part of the article - an exploration of some possible ways in which immigration law can expand into this Internet of the future. Note that this is by no means an academic article about the intersection of immigration law and the future of the Internet, but more so a commentary on what could be and a rare, fun, article centered around immigration law.

Setting up an office space in the metaverse.

Since the metaverse is intended to serve as a parallel, digital version of your life and activities, could it be possible for immigration lawyers to interact with potential clients in a truly fully virtual office in the future? As metaverse gaming platforms, like the ones mentioned above, expand to provide real-life services, like live concerts in Roblox or Fortnite, it doesn’t seem too far-fetched to imagine having built-out immigration law offices in Roblox or Fortnite. Indeed, there are tutorials on how to build in Roblox, freelancers who will build for you in Roblox, and companies have already built entire office buildings within the game.

Host and attend client meetings.

Using a virtual reality headset, you would meet with and interact with your client as an avatar and thus potentially provide a different, and perhaps better, experience than just a floating head on Zoom. Particularly with clients who are either younger, more tech-savvy, or professionally involved in the Web 3.0 industry, offering metaverse consultations may be a way to show that you’re a tech-savvy and progressive immigration lawyer. Of course it will be important to consider how to keep meetings professional, privacy concerns that will come with discussing immigration matters on platforms not meant for the transfer of sensitive data, keeping people’s identities and personal information private, and other concerns.

Marketing immigration law services within niche areas of the metaverse.

Just as some immigration lawyers focus on marketing themselves as an expert in a certain area of immigration law (for example, litigation, VAWA, investor visas, etc.), or based on their location, etc. it might be possible that as the metaverse gets more organized, immigration lawyers might start marketing themselves in certain “areas” of the metaverse, on various platforms (e.g. advertise in Roblox vs. Minecraft), etc. This might not be happening anytime soon, but you might even have the opportunity to expand your professional network by interacting with peers in the metaverse!

Before we go…

It’s important to clarify that, as we’ve discussed, the metaverse is still being defined. However, your efforts to stay up to date on how the world evolves in order to understand how to best bring value to your clients could benefit from having a basic understanding of these very new ideas and brainstorm how they could help you innovate in your practice, not to mention having a better understanding of where the world is heading from a technology perspective.

Docketwise: leading in innovation for immigration case management

We may not yet have a virtual reality integration for Docketwise, but our commitment to developing the most robust case management system in the market for immigration lawyers remains.

Docketwise prides itself in its dedication to pushing technology forward in the immigration space. And our integrations are just one of the ways to do that, thanks to

our open API to help you build a tech stack for your firm that will best streamline your process, improve efficiency, and enhance communication and client satisfaction.

To learn more about Docketwise, schedule a demo on our website and subscribe to our Immigration Briefings newsletter to continue learning more about Docketwise and all things immigration and technology.

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Immigration law in the United States is federal subject matter, which opens up opportunities for immigration lawyers to take clients outside of their home states, either from time to time through referrals or other opportunities, or by running a remote immigration law practice.

If that possibility is intriguing to you, or you’re already running a remote immigration law firm, consider this: What if you could run your immigration law firm from anywhere in the world? Since the COVID-19 pandemic, more and more professionals started to work remotely — both freelancers and employees — countries have developed various visa schemes as a response, particularly digital nomad visa programs, to attract those remote workers to their countries and allow them to work there lawfully.

The exciting news is that immigration lawyers can be part of that mix. So if you’re practicing US immigration law today and considering becoming a digital nomad while continuing to run your practice, this article covers two important points you should consider before packing your bags and becoming a digital nomad immigration lawyer. Let’s jump in.

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Some tools you need to run a successful virtual immigration law practice

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First, let’s look at four groups of tools you’ll need to successfully run a remote immigration law practice.

Communication tools

These will be especially important if you have team members, whether full-time or contractors. Whether you have a team of lawyers working with you, any administrative staff, or work with other remote workers, such as a virtual assistant, some efficient communication tools are necessary. A few to consider, if you don’t have them already, are Slack, Microsoft Teams, and Google Chat. These allow you to work with others from different locations and easily share files, search through and maintain conversations, and more.

Client intake tools

When it comes to client intake tools, one of the most important questions you should consider is how easy the tool makes it to capture client information. If you’re in the beginning stages of your practice, a client intake tool could be as simple as a Google Form where you ask clients for specific information in order to initiate or continue to work on their immigration case. If you’re in another part of the world and potentially in a different time zone, you need to make sure the process of information gathering is simple and straightforward so that you don’t end up in a back-and-forth email exchange trying to get information but rely on easy-to-use software to move things along. If you already use Docketwise, for example, you can customize client intake questionnaires when you’re onboarding clients and thus make things easier for everyone involved.

Video chat tools

Having the ability to talk to your clients in a more personable way, especially when you’re halfway around the world and can’t meet in person, helps keep your client relationships strong and adds a sense of personal connection even from afar. Connecting with your clients through video can show them that you’re there for them and committed to the successful completion of their case. You may already have a tool like Google Meet, Microsoft Teams (linked above), or Zoom as part of your communication tools tech stack, but you may also consider phone apps like WhatsApp if you already use them for your business.

Remember that maintaining a trust-based relationship with your clients will not only lead to a positive experience for them, which can lead to referrals and even a client returning to work with you for their next step in their immigration journey. For a better understanding on nurturing client relationships for the longer term, check out our past article on Customer Lifetime Value (CLV).

Document sharing tools.

As a Docketwise user, you can share and upload documents to your clients’ case files within the client Portal, but you can also use other tools in your tech stack like Google Docs or Dropbox. Pro tip: depending on your client load, you may want to check how much storage space these services provide in their free versions and look into additional storage plans if you have a high volume of documents.

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Complying with local laws as a digital nomad lawyer

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In addition to ensuring you have all the tools you need to practice immigration law from any location, you also need to ensure you comply with the laws of the country where you will be setting up shop. Here are some things you should keep in mind when it comes to looking at local laws when trying to work in other parts of the world. Please do note that this is not an exhaustive list of requirements to practice law as a digital nomad.

• Limitations or ethical obligations based on your state bar’s rule: It’s possible that your state bar has specific rules regarding practicing while not physically present in your state, or other rules about maintaining your license in good standing. Always be sure to check your state bar rules if you aren’t sure of the implications of a business decision, especially one as big as practicing law outside the US.
• Work visas and local taxes: You should also check to see what laws or policies you need to keep in mind regarding working in a different country, especially if you run your own US immigration law practice, and whether you’re subject to local income taxes. One question could be whether offering services as a US immigration lawyer might be considered unauthorized practice by the foreign jurisdiction if you are not also licensed there. We also suggest consulting with an international tax advisor before you move in order to understand the implications of running a business abroad, and particularly as immigration attorneys, you should make sure to be aware of work, digital nomad or other visa requirements wherever you decide to go.
• Proof of income as a visa requirement: Some countries require showing proof of income from a foreign source to show their new home authorities that they can support themselves without taking a local job. Examples of that include Malta, Brazil, and the United Arab Emirates. Having access and insight into your law firm’s finances and streamlining your client payment process is extremely helpful to see, and thus be able to provide, your financials if needed. For Docketwise users, integrations with Quickbooks and LawPay gives you quick access to your firm’s financials in one place.

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Join a digital nomad community before you set off

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Social media platforms like Facebook and Reddit have groups and threads focused on the digital nomad and expatriate lifestyle. Joining one of them, based on a specific location or your professional field can give you an idea of what to expect when it comes to balancing having a flexible location and practicing immigration law and allow you to potentially make friends or meet colleagues wherever you go so you don’t feel alone on your global journey. Working remotely is a dream for many people around the world, but that doesn’t mean it’s without its own challenges. Leverage resources and communities that already exist to make the process easier for you so that you can enjoy living around the world while building your immigration law practice!

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Docketwise is the best immigration case management system for location-independent attorneys

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Our main goal at Docketwise is to help immigration lawyers do what they do best - focus on doing great work for their clients while knowing that the rest of their practice is streamlined, automated and digitized. Docketwise can help you streamline and digitize your practice so that you can spend more of your time applying your legal knowledge to achieve the most positive outcome possible for your immigration law clients.

If you want to learn more about how Docketwise can help you streamline your practice — from client questionnaires to form-filling to case management and more — schedule a demo to talk to one of our team members.

And don’t forget to sign up for our Immigration Briefings newsletter for daily and weekly immigration updates!

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