9+ years of experience in corporate immigration law for small, medium, and large clients, including 2 years of managerial experience as a Team Manager/Supervisor. Demonstrated history of working in a fast-paced environment and meeting internal/external performance standards and service levels. Strong legal professional skilled in Microsoft Office, Data Entry, Data Analysis and Management, and Project/Program Management.
Overview
9
9
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Practice Support Lead I/Team Manager
BERRY, APPLEMAN & LEIDEN LLP
San Francisco, CA
06.2022 - 05.2023
Served as a dotted line supervisor for multiple legal teams (9-10), acting as a liaison between the teams/staff and managers.
Developed/Defined parameters, performance metrics, and KPIs for generating routine and customized reports to identify program trends, risks, or issues within the legal teams.
Collected and managed data periodically to evaluate project completion and success, providing guidance and instructions to teams regarding project plans and goals.
Provided data-driven strategic insights to client leadership, helping them navigate the impact of immigration policy changes on their immigration programs and business needs.
Offered ongoing training, guidance, and information to legal teams, reviewing issues and employee concerns and providing education on immigration guidelines, legal requirements, and internal procedures.
Served as a quality champion for legal teams, deploying quality initiatives to maintain consistency and excellence within the program.
Maintained and audited Public Access Files (PAFs) for H-1B program compliance.
Collaborated with other teams and departments to identify and correct systematic errors, aligning procedures and protocols to improve efficiency and client satisfaction.
Provided feedback and guidance to legal teams and managers on team management, performance reviews, hiring, termination, and disciplinary actions.
Analyzed data to anticipate client needs and adjust internal goals to maintain accountability in customer service.
Delivered a multitude of customized reports tailored to client’s unique requirements, goals, or functions to facilitate making informed business decisions.
Monitored department workload to optimize resource utilization, maintaining high accuracy in data management while promoting work-life balance and preventing burnout.
Conducted regular meetings with direct reports, offering career development opportunities, conducting performance management, providing feedback, and setting goals for continuous improvement.
Developed and maintained relationships with business/affiliate clients, as well as stakeholders from Talent, Recruitment, Mobility, and People Partners.
Created and delivered presentations to legal staff on a regular basis, keeping them updated on policy, program, and practice changes.
Business Immigration Supervisor
FRAGOMEN, DEL REY, BERNSEN & LOEWY LLP
San Francisco, CA
10.2021 - 06.2022
Supervised a legal team up to 9-10 members and liaised between legal team/staff and managers.
Conducted or assisted with performance reviews by providing constructive feedback to Partners and managers, and advising on interviewing, hiring, termination or disciplinary actions of legal staff.
Provided direction to teams using extensive knowledge of immigration processes and client-specific protocols.
Owned and delivered a top priority client report on a weekly basis identifying and tracking the foreign national population that are at risk of losing immigration status/work authorization. Scheduled several calls with impacted parties to discuss implications and possible solutions/strategies.
Responsible for customer support inbox triage, including the maintenance of client relationships and boosting customer satisfaction.
Communicated regularly with clients to help troubleshoot issues or discuss case specific issues and strategies.
Drafted/Reviewed petitions, applications, and specialized support letters to expedite case filing with government agencies and meet government deadlines.
Assigned cases to legal teams/staff and monitored workload, production, and case progression to meet client expectations/SLAs.
Conducted weekly meetings or trainings with direct reports and provided career development opportunities, executed performance management, conducted feedback sessions, maintained accountability, and set goals for continuous improvement.
Oversaw case statuses by utilizing case management and billing systems; under a direct manager’s supervision, reviewed cases to push them forward in the process and ensure client-billing approval.
Worked closely in a team environment and provided updates while building knowledge in company and client processes.
Received continuous training and development on immigration requirements such as updated forms or fees, which is then relayed to the teams.
Fostered and maintained cross-functional relationships with business/affiliate clients, and stakeholders including Talent, Recruitment, Mobility, and HRBP (Human Resources Business Partners).
Senior Paralegal
BERRY, APPLEMAN & LEIDEN LLP
08.2017 - 09.2021
Operated in a senior-level capacity for clients of different sizes, providing high-level client support, and overseeing the end-to-end workflow for both non-immigrant (NIV) and immigrant (IV) visa petitions and applications. Managed an average of 90-120 cases monthly.
Prepared and filed various immigration visa petitions and applications, ensuring timely submission and compliance with immigration regulations.
Assigned unique cases and expanded subject matter expertise to handle IV petitions and applications, including LC-PERMs, I-140s, and AOS (Adjustment of Status), among others.
Produced and delivered advanced overviews of immigration procedures and visa strategy assessments to senior leadership, clients, HR, and other stakeholders.
Created and documented processes and protocols specific to the firm and clients. These resources were utilized by legal teams, HR, and shareholders to ensure operational excellence and consistent practices.
Participated in regular meetings to identify issues and recommend improvements in firm or client-specific protocols, such as SOPs and fee agreements.
Coordinated the recruitment process for U.S. green card applications in collaboration with HR and sponsoring managers.
Reviewed the work of junior team members, including immigration forms, filing letters, letters of support, affidavits, and other immigration documents, ensuring accuracy and adherence to guidelines.
Managed reports to track KPIs and visa processing for significant clients, analyzing data for discrepancies or issues.
Conducted interviews to assess the compatibility of potential candidates with legal teams and clients.
Mentored and trained legal staff across multiple teams, sharing knowledge and expertise to enhance their skills and performance.
Organized team events such as birthdays, happy hours, team lunches, and baby showers, fostering a positive and collaborative work environment.
Immigration Assistant/Paralegal
BERRY, APPLEMAN & LEIDEN LLP
11.2014 - 08.2017
Managed and monitored a high-volume caseload (averaging 70-90/month) of various NIV visa types, showcasing the ability to handle multiple cases simultaneously.
Timely prepared and filed various non-immigrant visa (NIV) petitions and applications for a major technology company and two small to mid-sized companies.
Coordinated with legal staff and HR for Labor Condition Application (LCA) postings, ensuring compliance with Department of Labor (DOL) requirements.
Updated and monitored a case management database to effectively prioritize and examine workload, production, and project statuses.
Assisted the team manager in documenting and updating internal and client-specific processes and protocols, contributing to the development of streamlined workflows.
Coordinated and scheduled phone calls and meetings between clients and managing attorneys to address case-specific questions or strategies.
Generated a weekly report to discuss case strategies, progress, and issues with managing attorneys, promoting transparency and effective case management.
Monitored and managed client expectations and escalations related to firm deliverables, ensuring compliance with SLAs and KPIs.
Instructed and trained new legal staff members, providing them with comprehensive knowledge of visa immigration policies and processes.
Administrative Assistant
BERRY, APPLEMAN & LEIDEN LLP
06.2014 - 11.2014
Handled all administrative duties and provided general office support to 2-4 legal teams.
Inspected all incoming and outgoing documents, ensuring accuracy, and contacting government agencies to correct any errors identified during inspection.
Communicated with clients to prepare their approval packages, including approval letters, approval emails, and FedEx labels.
Prepared and filed petition/application withdrawals with the appropriate government agencies in a timely manner.
Entered data into the internal database to ensure accurate and updated client information.
Prepared email correspondence for legal teams, facilitating effective communication with clients for case updates.
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Psychology Cognitive Science and Political Science
University of California, Irvine
Irvine, CA
06.2013
Skills
Audits
Team Management, Team Goals, Teamwork and Collaboration
Data Management and Data Quality; Efficient Data Entry and Data Mapping in Data Management Software
Clerical/Administrative Support
Customer Relationship Management and Customer Satisfaction
Organization and Time Management
Problem-Solving and Multitasking Abilities
Microsoft Office: Outlook, Teams, Excel, Word and Powerpoint
Zoom, WebEx
Project Planning and Project Management
Employee Performance Evaluations
Understanding, Monitoring and Reporting KPI Metrics