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36th Annual

Conference on Immigration and Nationality Law

Austin Nov 7*, 8-9, 2012 Sheraton Austin Hotel at the Capitol
*optional Wed Afternoon session
Conference Concluded
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Overview

UT Law’s Conference on Immigration and Nationality Law is ideal for practitioners of all experience levels, and offers an opportunity to meet with and learn from nationally-recognized experts and to interact with colleagues. Get to know your fellow practitioners from around the state and hear how they are dealing with tough issues.

The 2-day program will provide you with tools, forms, tips and guidance on key decision points and strategies in family-based immigration cases and employment-based immigration cases, and the increasing importance of removal and relief from removal.

A special presentation from AILA, After the Election: News from Washington, discusses hot topics and issues—what to expect and what's next.

Come a day early for Wednesday's Fundamentals of Immigration and Nationality Law—ideal for new entrants to the field or as a refresher for experienced practitioners—includes Practicum: Intake and Evaluation of an Immigration Case and a Welcome Reception.

Save $25 and earn up to 19.00 hours of credit including 3.25 hours ethics when you register for both!

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Event Schedule

Program is subject to change.
All times are Central Time Zone.

  • Day 1 November 7, 2012
  • Day 2 November 8, 2012
  • Day 3 November 9, 2012
  • Time
    Credit
    Subject
    Speaker
  • Wednesday Afternoon, Nov. 7, 2012
  • 2012 Fundamentals of Immigration and Nationality Law - Separate Registration
    View 2012 Fundamentals of Immigration and Nationality Law program.

  • Wednesday Evening, Nov. 7, 2012
  • 4:45 pm
    0.00 hr ethics
    Welcome Reception
    Networking opportunity to meet and get to know your fellow immigration law practitioners.

  • Time
    Credit
    Subject
    Speaker
  • Thursday Morning, Nov. 8, 2012
    Presiding Officer:
    Michelle L. Saenz-Rodriguez, Saenz-Rodriguez & Associates, P.C. - Dallas, TX
  • 8:00 am
    Registration Opens
    Includes continental breakfast.

  • 8:30 am
    Welcoming Remarks

  • 8:40 am
    1.00 hr
    Hot Topics: Recent Developments and Emerging Issues
    A review of recent immigrations-related judicial and administrative decisions and policies affecting employment-based immigration and related employer compliance and foreign nationals in removal proceedings.

    Harry J. Joe, Jackson Lewis LLP - Dallas, TX
    Dan Kesselbrenner, National Immigration Project of the National Lawyers Guild - Boston, MA

  • 9:40 am
    0.33 hr
    An Introduction: CIS Ombudsman's Office of the Department of Homeland Security
    Meet the CIS Ombudsman's Office. Hear what the Ombudsman's Office can do for you and your client.

    Amany S. Ezeldin, CIS Ombudsman’s Office - Washington, DC

  • 10:00 am
    0.75 hr
    Getting the Green Card: Adjustment of Status vs. Consular Processing
    An overview of strategic considerations for employment-based immigrant visa matters and related assessment of common grounds of inadmissibility.
    This session will be presented at 11:30 a.m.

    L. Edward Rios, Cox Smith Matthews Incorporated - El Paso, TX

  • 10:45 am
    Break

  • 11:00 am
    1.25 hrs
    In a Country Where Unlawful Presence Reigns, We Bring You "Bars, Tolling and Waivers"
    A discussion of the intricacies of unlawful presence, calculations, overstays, status violations, accrual and waivers available to overcome the bars.
    This session will be presented at 10:15 a.m.

    Raed Gonzalez, Gonzalez Olivieri LLC - Houston, TX
    Faye M. Kolly, De Mott, McChesney, Curtright and Armendáriz, L.L.P. - Austin, TX

  • 12:15 pm
    Break to Pick Up Lunch

  • Thursday Afternoon, Nov. 8, 2012
    Presiding Officer:
    George Rodriguez, Saenz-Rodriguez & Associates, P.C. - Dallas, TX
  • Luncheon Presentation

  • 12:30 pm
    0.75 hr
    Victory for Dreamers: Deferred Action and Youth Advocacy
    An overview of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and the advocacy campaign for the passage of the DREAM Act that led to President Obama's 2012 policy.

    Moderator:
    Barbara Hines, The University of Texas School of Law - Austin, TX
    Panelists:
    M. Elizabeth 'Liz' Cedillo-Pereira, Cedillo-Pereira & Cedillo, PLLC - Dallas, TX
    Panelists:
    Julieta Garibay, United We Dream - Austin, TX

  • 1:15 pm
    Break

  • 1:30 pm
    1.00 hr
    0.50 hr ethics
    The Timeline Tightrope—Adjustment vs. Consular
    The principle of reverse engineering is critical in assessing the appropriate path to permanent residence. The goal of acquiring permanent residence can be years away and anticipating pitfalls and timing challenges for a client's review and assessment are crucial.

    Kathleen Campbell Walker, Cox Smith Matthews Incorporated - El Paso, TX

  • 2:30 pm
    1.00 hr
    Naturalization and Citizenship: Basic Issues
    Your client has a green card and wants to "upgrade" to U.S. citizenship. Is she eligible? Review of basic eligibility, travel issues, good moral character, special rules and citizenship. Your client believes that he is a U.S. citizen even though he was born outside the U.S. Is he a citizen? Look at derivative citizenship, acquired citizenship and contested citizenship.

    Janet Barbara Beck, University of Houston Law Center - Houston, TX
    Richard S. Fischer, The Law Offices of Richard S. Fischer - Nacogdoches, TX

  • 3:30 pm
    Break

  • 3:45 pm
    1.75 hrs
    0.50 hr ethics
    Anatomy of a Removal Case
    Examine the mechanics of removal proceedings from initiation of proceedings through the bond process and all the way to the removability phase of the case. Gain insight on the process and how to present the best case possible with a focus on practical consideration and legal strategy.

    Moderator:
    Michelle L. Saenz-Rodriguez, Saenz-Rodriguez & Associates, P.C. - Dallas, TX
    Panelists:
    Jodi M. Goodwin, Law Office of Jodi Goodwin - Harlingen, TX
    Panelists:
    Jacqueline L. Watson, Law Office of Thomas Esparza, Jr., P.C. - Austin, TX

  • 5:30 pm
    Adjourn

  • Time
    Credit
    Subject
    Speaker
  • Friday Morning, Nov. 9, 2012
    Presiding Officer:
    Richard A. Gump Jr., Attorney at Law - Dallas, TX
  • 8:00 am
    Conference Room Opens
    Includes continental breakfast.

  • 8:30 am
    0.75 hr
    Law Office Management: Finding What You Need
    How to find what you need to know to practice immigration law and how to use the latest technology to find it when you need it.

    Eugene J. Flynn, Eugene J. Flynn, P.C. - Dallas, TX
    Carl Michael Shusterman, Law Offices of Carl Shusterman - Los Angeles, CA

  • 9:15 am
    1.00 hr
    0.25 hr ethics
    Asylum: Basic to Advanced
    Beginning with a basic overview of the asylum process, then moving on to more advanced asylum issues, such as framing "particular social group" and Mexican asylum cases, learn practice points on how to prepare and successfully represent asylum seekers before USCIS and the Immigration Court.

    Moderator:
    Edna Yang, American Gateways - Austin, TX
    Panelists:
    Denise L. Gilman, The University of Texas School of Law Immigration Clinic - Austin, TX
    Panelists:
    Carlos Spector, Attorney At Law - El Paso, TX

  • 10:15 am
    Break

  • Business-Based Immigration
    Presiding Officer:
    Richard A. Gump Jr., Attorney at Law - Dallas, TX
  • 10:30 am
    1.00 hr
    Hot Topics in EB-5 Investor Visas
    Discussion of recent issues confronting investors, ranging from "source of funds" to "tenant occupancy" interpretations that affect job creations forecasts.

    Elise A. Healy, Spencer Crain Cubbage Healy & McNamara PLLC - Dallas, TX

  • 11:30 am
    0.75 hr
    PERManent Residence through Employment
    A discussion about the basic PERM requirements and procedures, including current trends and recent BALCA decisions, common and not-so-common pitfalls, and relevant I-140 and priority date considerations. Explore the issues surrounding minimum requirements, recruitment efforts and documentation retention.

    Edward R. Litwin, Litwin & Associates, A Law Corporation - South San Francisco, CA

  • CrImmigration
    Presiding Officer:
    Sarah E. Woelk, Casa Marianella Immigration Legal Services - Austin, TX
  • 10:30 am
    1.75 hrs
    Defeating Criminal Grounds of Removal
    Using common Texas crimes as examples, learn strategies to defeat removal charges based on criminal conduct, including the categorical and modified categorical analysis.

    Moderator:
    Barbara Hines, The University of Texas School of Law - Austin, TX
    Panelists:
    Dan Kesselbrenner, National Immigration Project of the National Lawyers Guild - Boston, MA
    Panelists:
    Stephanie Kolmar, American Gateways - Austin, TX

  • 12:15 pm
    Break for Buffet Lunch

  • Friday Afternoon, Nov. 9, 2012
    Presiding Officer:
    Sarah E. Woelk, Casa Marianella Immigration Legal Services - Austin, TX
  • Luncheon Presentation

  • 12:35 pm
    0.75 hr
    Post-Election: A Dream or a Nightmare for Immigration?
    Just days after the election, a look at what has come to pass and what is yet to come on immigration legislation and executive action. What will happen with deferred action for Dreamers? Will the DREAM Act, AgJOBS or other family and business reforms go through in the 113th Congress?

    Gregory Z. Chen Esq., American Immigration Lawyers Association - Washington, DC

  • 1:20 pm
    Break

  • 1:30 pm
    1.00 hr
    0.50 hr ethics
    ICE Audits: Looking Back and into the Future
    Experienced attorneys and an ICE Senior Special Agent discuss what to expect in an ICE audit and how to prepare your client.

    Richard A. Gump Jr., Attorney at Law - Dallas, TX
    Kevin Robert Lashus, Jackson Lewis LLP - Austin, TX
    Joseph Martinez Jr., DHS/ICE WSE - Windcrest, TX

  • 2:30 pm
    1.00 hr
    0.25 hr ethics
    Hot Topics in Marriage-Based Immigration
    Learn about the issues regarding the consequences of divorce on marriage-based applications and conditional residency, strategies to overcome these hurdles, and how to handle problematic cases and conflicts of interest, including marriage fraud.

    Nicolas Chavez, Chavez & Valko, LLP - Dallas, TX
    Lakshmi Nayar, Nayar & McIntyre, LLP - Dallas, TX
    Peter D. Williamson, Chamberlain, Hrdlicka, White, Williams & Aughtry - Houston, TX

  • 3:30 pm
    Break

  • 3:45 pm
    0.75 hr
    The Nuts and Bolts of Administrative Appeals for Petitions and Applications
    General requirements and procedures for administrative appeals of denials of family petitions, TPS applications, adjustment applications, citizenship applications, immigrant worker petitions and more. An analysis of the rules regarding mailing deadlines, motions to reopen, motions for reconsideration, filing fees and strategies for successful administrative appeals.

    Francisco Javier Garcia, UTMB - Galveston, TX
    Javier N. Maldonado, Law Office of Javier N. Maldonado, PC - San Antonio, TX

  • 4:30 pm
    Adjourn

  • Day 1 November 7, 2012
  • Day 2 November 8, 2012
  • Day 3 November 9, 2012
Download Schedule

Conference Faculty

Janet Barbara Beck

University of Houston Law Center
Houston, TX

M. Elizabeth 'Liz' Cedillo-Pereira

Cedillo-Pereira & Cedillo, PLLC
Dallas, TX

Nicolas Chavez

Chavez & Valko, LLP
Dallas, TX

Gregory Z. Chen Esq.

American Immigration Lawyers Association
Washington, DC

Amany S. Ezeldin

CIS Ombudsman’s Office
Washington, DC

Richard S. Fischer

The Law Offices of Richard S. Fischer
Nacogdoches, TX

Eugene J. Flynn

Eugene J. Flynn, P.C.
Dallas, TX

Francisco Javier Garcia

UTMB
Galveston, TX

Julieta Garibay

United We Dream
Austin, TX

Denise L. Gilman

The University of Texas School of Law Immigration Clinic
Austin, TX

Raed Gonzalez

Gonzalez Olivieri LLC
Houston, TX

Jodi M. Goodwin

Law Office of Jodi Goodwin
Harlingen, TX

Richard A. Gump Jr.

Attorney at Law
Dallas, TX

Elise A. Healy

Spencer Crain Cubbage Healy & McNamara PLLC
Dallas, TX

Barbara Hines

The University of Texas School of Law
Austin, TX

Harry J. Joe

Jackson Lewis LLP
Dallas, TX

Dan Kesselbrenner

National Immigration Project of the National Lawyers Guild
Boston, MA

Faye M. Kolly

De Mott, McChesney, Curtright and Armendáriz, L.L.P.
Austin, TX

Stephanie Kolmar

American Gateways
Austin, TX

Kevin Robert Lashus

Jackson Lewis LLP
Austin, TX

Edward R. Litwin

Litwin & Associates, A Law Corporation
South San Francisco, CA

Javier N. Maldonado

Law Office of Javier N. Maldonado, PC
San Antonio, TX

Joseph Martinez Jr.

DHS/ICE WSE
Windcrest, TX

Lakshmi Nayar

Nayar & McIntyre, LLP
Dallas, TX

L. Edward Rios

Cox Smith Matthews Incorporated
El Paso, TX

Michelle L. Saenz-Rodriguez

Saenz-Rodriguez & Associates, P.C.
Dallas, TX

Carl Michael Shusterman

Law Offices of Carl Shusterman
Los Angeles, CA

Carlos Spector

Attorney At Law
El Paso, TX

Kathleen Campbell Walker

Cox Smith Matthews Incorporated
El Paso, TX

Jacqueline L. Watson

Law Office of Thomas Esparza, Jr., P.C.
Austin, TX

Peter D. Williamson

Chamberlain, Hrdlicka, White, Williams & Aughtry
Houston, TX

Edna Yang

American Gateways
Austin, TX

Planning Committee

Richard A. Gump Jr.—Co-Chair

Attorney at Law
Dallas, TX

Michelle L. Saenz-Rodriguez—Co-Chair

Saenz-Rodriguez & Associates, P.C.
Dallas, TX

M. Elizabeth 'Liz' Cedillo-Pereira

Cedillo-Pereira & Cedillo, PLLC
Dallas, TX

Nicolas Chavez

Chavez & Valko, LLP
Dallas, TX

Michael J. Churgin

The University of Texas School of Law
Austin, TX

Eugene J. Flynn

Eugene J. Flynn, P.C.
Dallas, TX

Harry Gee Jr.

Law Office of Harry Gee, Jr. & Associates
Houston, TX

Raed Gonzalez

Gonzalez Olivieri LLC
Houston, TX

Mona Gupta

Gupta & Wiora, P.C.
Dallas, TX

Barbara Hines

The University of Texas School of Law
Austin, TX

Javier N. Maldonado

Law Office of Javier N. Maldonado, PC
San Antonio, TX

Paul Parsons

Paul Parsons, PC
Austin, TX

George Rodriguez

Saenz-Rodriguez & Associates, P.C.
Dallas, TX

Michelle M. Turner

The University of Texas School of Law
Austin, TX

Jacqueline L. Watson

Law Office of Thomas Esparza, Jr., P.C.
Austin, TX

Sarah E. Woelk

Casa Marianella Immigration Legal Services
Austin, TX

Edna Yang

American Gateways
Austin, TX

Credit Info

  • Austin
MCLE Credit
Toggle view Texas – 14.75 hrs  |  2.00 hrs Ethics
Legal Specialization(s): Expected for Immigration and Nationality Law
You may claim your credit online in Your Briefcase, and UT Law CLE will report credit on your behalf to the State Bar of Texas. A Certificate of Attendance will be provided in Your Briefcase for your records. The system reports Texas CLE credit every Tuesday. If you are claiming credit in the last week of your birth month, self-report your CLE credit directly to the State Bar of Texas at texasbar.com, using the course number  provided on your certificate of attendance.
Toggle view California – 14.75 hrs  |  2.00 hrs Ethics
You must claim your credit online in Your Briefcase, and will then be provided a Certificate of Attendance for your records. UT Law CLE is required to provide the State Bar with electronic attendance records for any MCLE participatory activity within 60 days of completion of the activity. The California licensee is responsible for reporting their compliance/credit hours earned to the State Bar at the end of their reporting period directly to the State Bar of California at calbar.ca.gov.  UT Law CLE will maintain Attendance Records for four years.  
Other Credit
Toggle view TX Accounting CPE – 17.50 hrs
The University of Texas School of Law (Provider #250) live conferences are presumptively approved by The Texas State Board of Public Accountancy for Texas Accounting CPE credit based on a 50-minute credit hour. Approved for general CPE credit only.

At the conference, you are welcome to sign in on the Accounting CPE Record of Attendance form at the registration desk, but we are now reporting all credit online. You will receive a Texas Accounting Certificate of Completion in Your Briefcase. Self-report your CPE credit directly to TSBPA. UT Law CLE will maintain Attendance Records for four years.  

Contact us at accreditation@utcle.org if you have additional questions.

Key Dates

Austin – Nov 7*, 8-9, 2012 – Sheraton Austin Hotel at the Capitol
*optional Wed Afternoon session
Conference Concluded
Buy
  • Austin
Standard Registration
Last day for $435.00 Regular pricing: Oct 31, 2012

$485.00 for registrations received after this time

Green Registration - USB Key ONLY
Last day for $430.00 Regular pricing: Oct 31, 2012

$480.00 for registrations received after this time

Last day for cancellation (full refund): Nov 2, 2012

$50 processing fee applied after this date

Last day for cancellation: Nov 5, 2012

Venue

speaker

Sheraton Austin Hotel at the Capitol

701 E. 11th Street
Austin, TX 78701
512-478-1111
1-888-627-8349 (reservations)
Map

Accommodations

$159.00 good through Oct 12, 2012

Parking Information

$10 daily self-parking; $10 overnight parking

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