Phillip Elder
Washington,DC
Overview
38
38
years of professional experience
Work History
Attorney
U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
Washington, DC
01.2006 - Current
- Expert in regulatory law, a difficult area, where answers for the client are rarely yes or no, and advice must be well researched, and based on the risks of a court challenge to the decision, practice, procedure or policy in question.
- Winner of USCIS Lifetime Achievement Award and multiple DHS Secretary’s Awards, recognized for legal expertise, institutional knowledge, and high regard by associates, clients, and colleagues.
- Never received less than the highest possible job performance rating.
- Fee expert. Lead drafter of five comprehensive rulemakings that adjusted immigration benefit request filing fees with billions of dollars in impacts to ensure the agency’s ability to fund its operations and carry out its mission.
- Forms expert. Go to lawyer for forms question for an agency that has over 100 different forms, and receives nearly 10 million filings per year.
- Expert on form creation legal process, limits on information collection, instructions, fine print, intake, rejection, and conversion to online filing.
- Well known for ability to provide quick, cogent, and accurate legal advice and analysis on high profile matters, relatable to any audience, with insight into complex or sensitive issues and the political, legislative, and public policy landscape.
- Handle time sensitive issues effectively, meet project deadlines, and adeptly respond to urgent litigation requirements.
- Skillfully produce legal analyses that clearly lay out options and risks to place client in the best position to make informed decisions.
- Maintain positive, professional, and collegial relationships by leading clearance with Department of Justice (DOJ), DHS components, U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
- Lead attorney and expert in integral areas of law affecting government benefit requests including signatures, biometrics, electronic processing, and appeals.
- Empathetically mentor new attorneys while handling heavy workload.
- Lead efforts to improve structure and wording of Federal regulations.
- Daily act as advocate for the will of the people as expressed in the law; serve the public with fairness, courtesy, integrity, and improve the effectiveness of the government.
Agricultural Economist
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Farm Service Agency (FSA)
Washington, DC
01.2001 - 01.2006
- Exemplary performer who dramatically improved the functioning of my organization.
- Independently undertook additional duties and related activities as requested by management.
- Autonomously revised, managed and cleared regulations through cabinet level officials.
- Increased the quality of regulations, and improved regulatory development and clearance times.
- Manage major projects, monitor progress, lead working groups, drive the process forward, and provide accountability for final actions.
- Excellent work and dynamic performance resulted in becoming the manager for the USDA Office of Civil Rights project, Transparency and Accountability for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers.
- Advanced the project on schedule and was acknowledged as the USDA expert in equal opportunity, civil rights, and USDA's understanding and implementation of civil rights policy.
- Significantly improved economic analyses of FSA regulations by re-writing the analyses or providing excellent advice and information to the analysts and economists.
- Kept management informed on regulatory initiatives managed.
- Maintained communications between staff, USDA political leadership, the Office of Management and Budget, and within other stakeholder organizations.
- Recognized by everyone with interest in FSA affairs as the person to go to for regulatory information.
Timeline
Attorney
U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
01.2006 - Current
Agricultural Economist
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Farm Service Agency (FSA)
01.2001 - 01.2006
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