2012 AILA Annual Conference Program Booklet

Conference Program

Day-At-A-Glance

myPlanner

Interdisciplinary

Asylum

Federal Court Litigation/Criminal Tracks

Business Immigration

Family Immigration

Fundamentals

Law Practice Success

Special Sessions

More Free Time

Annual Conference Program Committee

There is no better way to enhance your immigration practice knowledge and earn CLE credits than by attending the 2012 AILA Annual Conference at the Gaylord Opryland in Nashville! Attending the Annual Conference is a great way to brush up on your immigration law skills, learn about a new practice area or get a feel for a new career in immigration law. You won't be disappointed by all this conference and great locale have to offer.

The Annual Conference Program Committee has created a fabulous program jam-packed with a load of new offerings; here are some highlights of what you can't afford to miss!

Inadmissibility Issues for the Business Practitioner
This panel will discuss common grounds of inadmissibility that business immigration practitioners may encounter, and offer suggestions for how to address them. It will describe best practices to identify and ameliorate potential problems upfront. The panel will also address ethical issues involved when an employee discloses prejudicial information (i.e., criminal history) to counsel for the employer.

Criminal Law for Immigration Litigators
This panel will be presented by criminal defense practitioners and will give an overview from the criminal defense perspective. Immigration practitioners will also learn how to help criminal defense counsel and how to vacate convictions under Padilla on their own.

Must Know Taxation Issues for Family Immigration Practitioners
This session will address tax issues family immigration practitioners should be familiar with. Panelists will cover how to determine whether an individual is a resident or nonresident for taxation purposes, filing status, dependents, credits your clients should be aware of, and other tax matters.

Practical Issues in Asylum Litigation
Aimed at newer attorneys and more experienced practitioners who need to brush up on their trial skills, this panel will address the practical, day-to-day issues that come up in asylum cases in immigration courts.

Let's Get Real: Perspectives on Federal Court Litigation from a U.S. Attorney, a Federal Judge, and the Bar
An exciting view of federal litigation from all sides. Learn the most important things you can do to win your case, as told by each side.

The Latest Developments in Crimmigration Law
This panel will give you the 411 on the everevolving intersection between criminal and immigration law, focusing particularly on the changing role of the categorical approach in analyzing the immigration consequences of crimes.

Third Party Placement
Third party placement has become a hot and contentious issue in various contexts. Not only does it impact the outcome of nonimmigrant visa adjudications, but it can also trigger investigations resulting in civil and criminal liability. This session fully explores all of the ramifications of third party placement so that you can sufficiently advise your clients, including vendors, about the dos and don'ts.

Kazarian: The Next Generation
With the Kazarian decision and the recent publication of the USCIS Interim Policy Memo "Evaluation of Evidentiary Criteria in Certain Form I-140 Petitions," USCIS adjudications of EB-1 Extraordinary Ability and EB-1 Outstanding Researcher are proceeding under a two-part approach. This panel will discuss what is extraordinary or outstanding "enough" under the final merits determination.

"I Got Nothin'": Advanced Affidavit of Support Issues
In these days of recession and unemployment, affidavit of support issues are even more prevalent. Alternate sources of income or liquidity are more important than ever. This advanced level panel will discuss the alternative ways to meet the requirements for filing an affidavit of support when the bottom line of the bank statement doesn't do the trick.

Some Kind of "Trouble": Problem Issues in Naturalization Cases
This panel will focus on spotting issues at the onset of preparing the N-400 application, as well as determining suitable remedies to move your client's case forward and to avoid jeopardizing the underlying LPR status.

Fundamentals Boot Camp
New to immigration law? This session is for you! The Fundamentals Boot Camp on Wednesday evening is a can't-miss event for newer practitioners. Attendees will receive a basic primer on the five core practice areas in immigration law: business, family, consular processing, removal, and asylum. Attendees will use this session as a foundation for building the knowledge needed to attend the core fundamentals track sessions throughout the rest of the conference.

"Friending" Your Law Practice: How to Put Social Media to Work for You
This hands-on panel will focus on how you can use social media to grow your practice and attract clients while looking like a techie.

Digital Dilemma: How to Affordably Take Your Office Paperless
Scan and preserve your office files using the latest technology and comply with the regulatory standards. Digitize your office the right way for good.

Prosecutorial Discretion: How to Deal Effectively with ICE and CBP
Your client is detained by ICE or by CBP, now what do you do? This panel will discuss how and whom to contact and ways to effectively invoke the government's use of prosecutorial discretion. The panel will review and discuss governmental use of prosecutorial discretion and local trends in various jurisdictions.

In order to provide more networking opportunities for attendees, this year there will be no CLE sessions during lunch. We hope attendees use this extra free time to visit the Exhibit Hall, network with colleagues or take a moment to catch up with the office.

Robin D. O'Donoghue, Annual Conference Vice-Chair
T. Douglas Stump, AILA First Vice-President
Grace Akers Woods, AILA Director of Education

Enforcement/Due Process/Criminal/Asylum Sessions
Olsi Vrapi, Chair
Kerry E. Doyle
Anthony Drago Jr.
Ilana Etkin Greenstein
Paul O'Dwyer
Amy L. Peck
Thomas K. Ragland
Noemi Ramirez
Deborah S. Smith
Emily Assunta White

Family Sessions
Gayle Oshrin, Chair
Russell Abrutyn
Sioban Albiol
Robert J. Casazza
Timothy Fallon
Matthew J. Maiona
Bernadette "Ginger" McGuire
Annaluisa Padilla
Michelle Saenz Rodriguez

Business Sessions
Robin D. O'Donoghue, Chair
Helena H. Astolfi
Daniel Brown
Jeffrey A. Devore
Neil S. Dornbaum
Kate Kalmykov
Vincent W. Lau
Rebecca R. Massiatte
Cyrus D. Mehta
Maggie M. Murphy
Gregory Howard Siskind

Fundamentals & Special Sessions
Cory Caouette, Chair
Melinda M. Basaran
Barbara Bower
Helene Nguyen Dang
Nancy B. Elkind
Avi Friedman
Kortney H. Klein
Linda Rose
Sonal J. Mehta Verma
Lisa Helen York
Magdale Linda Labbe Henke

Contributing Advisor, Special Sessions
Reid Trautz, Director, AILA Practice & Professionalism Center