I represent individuals and corporate clients in front of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Department of Labor and the Department of State.

EDUCATION | I have a B.A. in political science from the California State University of Chico and a J.D. from Hastings College of Law.

HOW TO GET STARTED | You will need to have a high G.P.A. You can enroll in law school assuming your grades are high and you've taken and passed (with a good score) the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT). Be sure and choose a school with a good reputation. Law school takes three years to complete and then you will have to pass the Bar Exam. It is essential that you have a love and concern for people. Those coming to you (individuals, companies, immigration officers) will be seeking your help. Their case is important. Work hard and be professional.

MUST HAVE TRAITS | People-person, detail-oriented, patient (as you will have to deal with the government and stressed clients), persistent and somewhat immune to frustration.

how I got started | In high school I was a debater. This isn't to say I was on the debate team; I just like to argue a lot, especially when it came to politics! The bent I had toward political science generated in high school and so I ended up majoring in it in college. Immediately after graduation I was drafted into the Vietnam War. I was stationed in San Francisco at first, but then spent a year in Bangkok. In college I hadn't been sure what I would do with my degree, but I took the LSAT and did well. I decided to become a lawyer when I got back to the states. My first job was with an immigration firm. I became immersed in this field and quickly became an expert as my whole focus was immigration law. I now own my own firm.

why this job?| This is a very interesting area of law. My work is with business immigration. I work a lot with companies dealing with foreign nationals. What inspires me in this career is not wanting to disappoint people - I hate tears! If my client can't get permission to work here, for example, they have to leave. The U.S. was founded by immigrants, so having a part in the lives of people today that will become a part of our fabric is exciting.

why I love this job!| I love different cultures. I am dealing with human beings and for a lot of them living in the U.S. is the most important factor in their whole life. Helping them accomplish this is very rewarding. Also, I love being my own boss.

my typical day| I generally start my work day around 7:15 a.m. I read emails, review papers and put things together for my legal assistant. By 9:00 a.m. the phone starts ringing. I then talk and meet with clients, and strategize on cases until 5:00 p.m. From 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. I try and catch up on paperwork. Immigration practice of law is administrative so I don't go into court very often. If one of my business clients has a deportation situation, for example, then I'm in court. I also do a lot of speaking so I have to carve out time to prepare presentations. I speak to other immigration attorneys for training and hold seminars for potential clients.

what they are | Dealing with bureaucracy, getting up at 2:00 a.m. to make overseas phone calls to embassies and consulates, knowing that a client has a good case, but not being able to obtain enough evidence, trying to reflect the lives of my clients accurately and in the correct presentation so I can convince the courts that this person merits approval, and annoyingly busy government telephones can all be a challenge!

all about growth | It's sad, but true: our culture is as such that we can't accomplish much without an attorney. The upside: there will always be a need for lawyers. Immigration laws are complicated and change often so there's constantly much to learn.

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