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Job outlook for immigration lawyers in the United States
Are immigration lawyer jobs in demand?
Immigration lawyer job and salary trends over time
Immigration lawyer jobs over time
Immigration lawyer job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 91 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 88 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 88 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 86 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 84 | 0.00% |
Average immigration lawyer salary over time
Immigration lawyer salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $65,998 | $31.73 | +3.2% |
| 2024 | $63,934 | $30.74 | +1.7% |
| 2023 | $62,868 | $30.22 | +1.4% |
| 2022 | $62,005 | $29.81 | +0.9% |
| 2021 | $61,438 | $29.54 | +2.0% |
Immigration lawyer jobs by state
Most common states for immigration lawyers
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 5 | 1% |
| 2 | Texas | 28,304,596 | 33 | 0% |
| 3 | California | 39,536,653 | 27 | 0% |
| 4 | New York | 19,849,399 | 26 | 0% |
| 5 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 14 | 0% |
| 6 | Illinois | 12,802,023 | 13 | 0% |
| 7 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 12 | 0% |
| 8 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 12 | 0% |
| 9 | Pennsylvania | 12,805,537 | 8 | 0% |
| 10 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 6 | 0% |
| 11 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 5 | 0% |
| 12 | North Carolina | 10,273,419 | 5 | 0% |
| 13 | Michigan | 9,962,311 | 4 | 0% |
| 14 | Tennessee | 6,715,984 | 4 | 0% |
| 15 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 1 | 0% |
| 16 | Vermont | 623,657 | 0 | 0% |
| 17 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 0 | 0% |
| 18 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 0 | 0% |
| 19 | Delaware | 961,939 | 0 | 0% |
| 20 | West Virginia | 1,815,857 | 0 | 0% |
Most common cities for immigration lawyers
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | 1 | 0% | $117,513 |
| 2 | Phoenix | 1 | 0% | $66,340 |
Immigration Lawyer job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of immigration lawyer experts
Pepperdine University
Texas Tech University
Pace University
Arizona State University
University of Iowa
University of Mississippi
University of Miami and Affiliated Faculty, Harvard Law School Executive Education
Boston University
Golden Gate University
University of New Hampshire
Duquesne University
Montclair State University
Holt Law
Pepperdine University
Quinnipiac University
Quinnipiac University
Quinnipiac University
What general advice would you give to an Immigration Lawyer?
Joel Fetzer: The ability to analyze large quantitative datasets using software such as SPSS, STATA, or R should be increasingly valued in the political and legal world as well as in survey-research and campaign firms and in Silicon Valley. Oral and written communication skills, the ability to persuade people to do what you or your client would like, remain crucial in this field, ChatGPT notwithstanding. And workers in this area will even more frequently need to combat disinformation campaigns using social and traditional media.
What general advice would you give to an Immigration Lawyer?
Leah Won: Law is a terrific profession to enter if you are interested in the ability to make an impact for your clients and your community.
What Immigration Lawyer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Leah Won: Lawyers enjoy the opportunity to help people and organizations solve problems and achieve their goals. Lawyers enjoy thinking creatively and advocating for a position or for a person. Practicing law can become an all-encompassing endeavor that leaves little space for the parts of life that make us a whole person-setting boundaries and protecting one's mental health are crucial for a long career in the law.
Kayla Wimberley J.D. TTU Law 2011
Assistant Dean for Career and Professional DevelopmentTexas Tech University
Law
What general advice would you give to an Immigration Lawyer?
Kayla Wimberley J.D. TTU Law 2011: Do well in school. Get good grades. The big law firms are the ones that pay, and they are the ones that are grade sensitive. And be prepared to put in the work. The more you are willing to hustle the more you can make in your practice.
What Immigration Lawyer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Kayla Wimberley J.D. TTU Law 2011: Legal research and writing continue to be the hallmark skills for attorneys. I don't see this changing any time soon. I do think AI will continue to make its way into our practice, so having some knowledge of the use of AI would be helpful. However, this is a people/humanity centered field. You can't fake humanity.
What will help Immigration Lawyers increase their earning potential?
Kayla Wimberley J.D. TTU Law 2011: Enjoy this time. Learn everything you can and be grateful for each piece of feedback you receive from an employer. This is your chance to learn how to be a lawyer, and to improve with each project you work on. This will not be your last legal job, but it will probably be the place you learn the most (both what to do and what not to do).
Leslie Garfield Tenzer
Professor of Law, Luk-Cummings Family Faculty ScholarPace University
Elisabeth Haub School of Law
What skills stand out on Immigration Lawyer resumes?
Leslie Garfield Tenzer: Research and writing. I would encourage every student eligible to participate in their school's law review or law journals. Participation communicates to employers that you are committed to taking on extra work and demonstrates that you have developed your legal research and writing skills beyond the core curriculum.
What soft skills should all Immigration Lawyers possess?
Leslie Garfield Tenzer: Eye contact, clarity of expression, willingness to work hard, ability to accept criticism, and strong networking skills.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Immigration Lawyers?
Leslie Garfield Tenzer: Legal research, editing skills, and most importantly, an ability to analyze the law.
What skills will help Immigration Lawyers earn the most?
Leslie Garfield Tenzer: In the short run, the skill of providing the partners with quality work. In the long run, cultivating clients.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Immigration Lawyers?
Adam Chodorow: When the pandemic first hit, just about everything ground to a halt. However, after an initial adjustment, legal work came roaring back. The pandemic does not appear to have affected our students' job prospects because there is plenty of work to be done. ASU Law rallied around its students to create paid employment opportunities when their summer jobs were canceled or postponed due to the pandemic. The students gained a meaningful, practical experience, in addition to much-needed financial support.
And now we face a more interesting question and one we won't know the answer to for many years: Where and how our graduates will be working. The pandemic has proven that lawyers can work from home for long periods. It is too soon to tell whether this will be a temporary aberration or the new normal. Firms may relinquish or significantly reduce their office space to save money and time, but doing so could also affect firm culture, the ability to train young lawyers, and a host of other important factors we have yet to consider.
For years, futurists have told us that big changes were coming to the way lawyers practiced, whether because of flexible work arrangements, increased use of technology, or globalization. The pandemic forced us all to go down that path sooner than many expected. The jury is still out on what of this new way to work we will keep and what of the old we will discard.
What type of skills will young Immigration Lawyers need?
Adam Chodorow: Most students come to law school, thinking that they are there to learn the law. However, being an effective lawyer requires far more than simply knowing the rules. Lawyers need to be creative problem solvers who can understand their clients' needs and advise them on minimizing risk best while achieving their goals. Perhaps the most important skill lawyers need is the ability to communicate clearly, whether in writing or orally. Other skills include gathering information, spot issues, and analyzing what the law prohibits, requires, or permits. This involves more specific skills, such as the ability to:
Listen to and work with clients.
Find, absorb, and understand vast amounts of information in a short time frame.
Find ways to advance client interests within the existing legal environment.
In addition to these basic lawyering skills, young lawyers will need to be technically proficient with various computer programs, databases, and other electronic resources that are fast becoming indispensable to the practice of law.
What experience really stands out on Immigration Lawyer resumes?
Adam Chodorow: Law firms often say that they are looking for practice-ready attorneys - that is, attorneys who can come in and contribute on day one. The fact is - no matter how much experience law students get, there will always be a steep learning curve once they graduate. With that said, externships and summer positions in the field the students want to practice in will help students along that curve and signal to employers that they truly are interested in the type of work an employer does. Thus, those interested in criminal law should try to get externships and summer positions as prosecutors or with the public defenders' office or defense firms; those interested in family law might try to get an externship with a judge working on family law.
What type of skills will young Immigration Lawyers need?
Christina Bohannan: Graduates will need to have excellent analytical and communication skills. They will need to understand how the law intersects with their clients' business or other interests. They will also need to have cultural proficiency to work with diverse clients and coworkers with different ideas, cultures, and backgrounds.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Immigration Lawyers to find work opportunities?
Christina Bohannan: Legal studies allow graduates to find work anywhere in the United States. For example, although our law school is in Iowa, we send many students all over the country.
How do you envision technology impacting Immigration Lawyers in the next 5 years?
Christina Bohannan: Technology will continue to play a role in legal practice. Over the last several years, it has allowed more people to work remotely from the firms or other organizations where they practice. The pandemic has made online meetings and court arguments more common than ever. But I believe that when the epidemic is lifted, we will likely return to mostly in-person court appearances.
What are the best companies to work for an Immigration Lawyer?
Ronald Rychlak: Legal support is needed in numerous areas, from small law firms to large multinational corporations. More and more, you see colleges and universities with a need in this field. The goal should be to find a welcoming office, a stable environment, and a geographic location that fits your needs and desires. Fortunately, with this background, there are many options to choose from.
Will there be an increase or decrease in demand for Immigration Lawyers in the next 5 years?
Ronald Rychlak: Regardless of the business climate, legal issues will remain. Moreover, in the legal profession, more and more is turning to legal support services to meet clients' needs. I expect the demand for graduates in the field only to grow.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Immigration Lawyers to find work opportunities?
Ronald Rychlak: Opportunities in this field exist almost everywhere. There is a particular need in rural areas, but legal support services are needed anywhere people live and do business. That's nice, because you need not limit your options due to geographic restrictions.
Michele DeStefano
Professor of LawUniversity of Miami and Affiliated Faculty, Harvard Law School Executive Education
Department of Law
How do you envision technology impacting Immigration Lawyers in the next 5 years?
Michele DeStefano: I recently helped create a new non-profit called the Digital Legal Exchange (in collaboration with Mark Cohen, Bill Deckelman, Dan Reed, and Reen SenGupta). As its name indicates, it is all about going digital-helping in-house legal departments accelerate their digital transformation. But unlike it sounds, digital transformation is not only about tech. True, tech is part of digital transformation. And as research by the Leading Edge Forum shows, tech modernization is the first step towards digital transformation. But tech is not the hardest or the most significant part of digital transformation. Instead, the hardest and biggest parts are people, culture, mindset, and purpose.
So, ironically, I do not think that technology will change the way we work as rapidly as people think it is going to - at least not the fancy technology that everyone is talking about, like AI. Although, I believe that AI and blockchain's potential to move us forward and enable lawyers to predict better what clients need and add value that creates revenue is outstanding, I don't believe that we'll see the true potential come to fruition within the next five years. Yes, we will see it in bits and pieces, and some places/companies/industries, but it won't be as fast and as disruptive as everyone seems to think it will be.
That said, I believe that the legal professionals who understand what it means to transform digitally, how to track and analyze data and metrics, how to change culture and mindset, and who understand how the technology works, and, therefore, how it can be leveraged, are the professionals who will succeed. They will be the ones who provide a more client-centric experience and who help generate revenue for and with their internal and external clients.
Dr. Jay Zagorsky
Senior Lecturer, Markets, Public Policy and LawBoston University
Questrom School of Business
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Immigration Lawyers to find work opportunities?
Dr. Jay Zagorsky: College graduates looking for work typically don't know about a government source called the "Occupational Outlook Handbook." (https://www.bls.gov/ooh/home.htm).
College majors don't line up exactly with jobs. Instead, most majors qualify you for a variety of positions. The "Occupational Outlook Handbook" shows you which positions over the next decade will be in high and which positions in low demand. You can tailor your resume to fit a variety of positions.
I teach statistics to business school students and like showing them that statisticians are currently the fifth fastest-growing occupation in the U.S. I tell them they don't have to major in statistics to apply for these jobs. Instead, they should highlight the one course they took with me. I also like pointing out that the handbook shows one of the shrinking areas of work is chief executive of a corporation. US businesses have been steadily consolidating, making it tougher than ever to get to the corner office for those who aim high.
How do you envision technology impacting Immigration Lawyers in the next 5 years?
Dr. Jay Zagorsky: Technology has been rapidly transforming society. Smartphones are now ubiquitous. However, they have not been around for a very long time. The first iPhone came out in 2008. New technologies, like the smartphone, which will revolutionize our society, will continue to appear. Since no one can predict how technology can impact any field, the best thing that college graduates can do is be flexible. Being able to learn new things quickly, being willing to start over, and being ready to volunteer are traits every business looking to hire employees wants, especially in times of rapid technological change. You don't need to be an expert in every new technology.
Instead, just be open to new ideas and experiences throughout your career and make sure your boss knows if they need a person to try new things out, you are the one.
Rana Boujaoude
Associate Professor of Law Director of Bar ServicesGolden Gate University
Department of Law
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Immigration Lawyers?
Rana Boujaoude: Absolutely. Our graduates are facing enormous hurdles trying to get licensed and enter into the workforce.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Immigration Lawyers to find work opportunities?
Rana Boujaoude: It's difficult to say. With the bar exam being postponed in most jurisdictions across the country, this is causing a delay for licensing. Even some of our graduates who had post-bar work lined up before the pandemic are finding their positions are no longer needed.
How do you envision technology impacting Immigration Lawyers in the next 5 years?
Rana Boujaoude: I think that the shift to virtual and online work will continue in all industries. Especially in the legal field, I envision court hearings and other procedures to remain the norm for years to come.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Immigration Lawyers?
Megan Carpenter: The current global pandemic makes apparent the vital role that lawyers play in civil society, particularly in times of chaos and disruption. When there is chaos, when there are vulnerable populations, lawyers are essential for the grand challenges that we face. Throughout history, whether the issue is slavery or women's rights, religious liberty, health law, and policy, how we define private rights and public needs or develop vital technologies, the big arguments have been about who we are as a people, and the society we want to live in, and lawyers are necessary to help find solutions.
This is particularly true in the area of intellectual property and technology law. As the legal framework surrounding human creativity, intellectual property is relevant across industries and provides the foundation for innovation and invention. Transactions in IP are the system of movement for innovation around the world. Solutions to problems from climate change to international peace and security are based on innovation. Issues at the intersection of data and privacy are critical in the digital age. And IP can help carve a path through the current crisis, whether working to support vaccine development on the front lines at the World Health Organization, developing online learning technologies, or helping to make public health policy. Our IP system is fraught with uncertainty, and yet, is at the center of some of the most important global challenges we face.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Immigration Lawyers to find work opportunities?
Megan Carpenter: We see geographic boundaries dissolve. The pandemic has shown us that lawyers are able to use technology and work in remote locations, across the country and around the world. Rather than thinking of particularly good places to find work opportunities, I might reverse that and say that just about anywhere can be a good place to find work opportunities in the future.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Immigration Lawyers?
Maria Comas: It's difficult to know how much of an impact the pandemic will have on graduates. Many May 2020 graduates have been impacted in the short-term because bar exams across the country have been rescheduled, in some instances, more than once. This means that these graduates will start their legal careers later than they normally would have if the bar exam would have been held in July, as it usually is.
Some large law firms announced reductions in pay, furloughs, and layoffs earlier in the year as a result of the pandemic. Some of those firms have been able to adjust those reductions and bring back employees, which are positive signs, while at the same time, other firms have announced additional layoffs. It's difficult to project the long-term impact of the pandemic, but signs point to the likelihood of faster recovery than what we saw after the 2009 economic downturn.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Immigration Lawyers to find work opportunities?
Maria Comas: Lawyers assist individuals, small businesses, large corporations, and governments with a variety of questions, issues, and policies, in geographic areas, ranging from large cities to small towns. For that reason, opportunities are available to law graduates in every state. However, depending on the economy and top industries in a particular area, the types of opportunities may vary. Lawyers are always needed to serve in rural and underserved populations, in addition to more populated cities and towns.
How do you envision technology impacting Immigration Lawyers in the next 5 years?
Maria Comas: Technology will continue to impact the legal profession in where and how work is done. We've witnessed innovation and flexibility in the legal profession's ability to work from home during the pandemic, and some legal employers will continue to consider remote work options as a way to reduce overhead costs, just as is being done in other industries.
As automation, artificial intelligence, and other technology evolve, the practice of law will change as well. This may involve additional changes to legal research, e-discovery, e-filing, legal operations, and decision making, for example.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Immigration Lawyers?
Francesca Laguardia Ph.D.: Only time will tell. Many students may go straight into law school, when otherwise they would have taken a year or two to work. Others may need to work or be more hesitant about the expense of law school, given the uncertain financial situation. There is no way to judge how this reshuffling will pan out overall. And, while many businesses may be contracting, paralegals are needed for the work law firms continue to do.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Immigration Lawyers to find work opportunities?
Francesca Laguardia Ph.D.: The legal field is universal. Major firms may tend to gravitate to bigger cities, but there is legal work everywhere.
How do you envision technology impacting Immigration Lawyers in the next 5 years?
Francesca Laguardia Ph.D.: Technology is already having a huge impact on the legal field. Huge amounts of time traditionally spent on document review is now unnecessary as technology takes over. New technological knowledge is always important for paralegals and attorneys. Now, given the increase in an online court, other legal appearances, technological comfort, and a knowledge of privacy concerns have become even more necessary.
Brendan Holt
Mediator, Collaborative Divorce Attorney, Parenting Coordinator and Guardian Ad LitemHolt Law
What general advice would you give to an Immigration Lawyer?
Brendan Holt: Continue to remain curious professionally; be a life-long learner. There are many nuances, ideas, techniques, and opportunities that can only really develop if you stay engaged and open to growth. Seek out occasions to speak with folks about the communication difficulties they experience, whether professional or personal, and listen. From these experiences, you can gain a fantastic insight into both the root causes of conflict and new ways to approach facilitating the resolution of that conflict.
What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for Immigration Lawyers in the next 3-5 years?
Brendan Holt: Wow, technology changes so quickly, that looking out that far is ambiguous. But I think that ultimately, for this field, exciting technology will likely be systems that streamline the processing of large amounts of data and written communications, like contracts or email threads, for example, and help identify patterns and specific issues. The job of actually using empathy and deep listening to help people in conflict better understand and hear one another, and better communicate overlapping interests will probably remain a human skillset. But I think that technology that allows dispute resolution professionals, like mediators, to discover past communication pitfalls and patterns more quickly, will let them get to the work of fostering human communication and connection more readily.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Immigration Lawyers?
Brendan Holt: Absolutely, and hopefully, not all of the harmful variety. This pandemic came on suddenly and had such a drastic impact on so many aspects of our lives and typical systems that it forced us all very quickly to adapt. We've had to rethink how we communicate fundamentally; and what traditional business and professional practices could be refined or replaced. There is a real and ongoing opportunity to invent, embrace, and accelerate new, streamlined, and more effective systems. Processes that we realize we should continue to use and develop, even when things go back to "normal."
What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for Immigration Lawyers in the next 3-5 years?
Ryan Brown: As more universities and companies are conducting business virtually, it will be increasingly important to master a broad spectrum of videoconferencing services.
William Logue
Director of Dispute Resolution Training Interim Director of Summer ProgramsQuinnipiac University
Law
What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for Immigration Lawyers in the next 3-5 years?
William Logue: The pandemic has and will continue to accelerate the use of technology. Six months ago, few mediations or arbitrations were held by video conference. Now, the majority have moved in that direction. Being familiar with, and skillful in using, the new technology, and the role it can play in dispute system design, will be necessary. The adoption of online dispute resolution (ODR) and integration of artificial intelligence will move faster because of the pandemic and the new demand and increased user comfort level with technology.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Immigration Lawyers?
William Logue: Although this seems like a potential displacement of people, virtual platforms require a different kind of preparation for users and more considerable attention to rapport building where relationships are meaningful. Those people skills are key strengths that an expert in dispute resolution and conflict management can bring. Right dispute resolution professionals are flexible, adaptable, and creative - a good foundation for an evolving career.
What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for Immigration Lawyers in the next 3-5 years?
Michelle Miller: Of course, it has long been the case that attorneys and paralegals are not using actual books, even to do legal research, as Lexis and Westlaw have become ever more popular. However, over the past several years, smaller, less expensive, legal research products have been giving these two companies a run for their money, especially in smaller firms. No Legal Studies program can cover all of the technology that a graduate might encounter. This means that graduates must be willing to learn new research and office management programs, other than those they may have met at university.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Immigration Lawyers?
Michelle Miller: This is a question I'm not sure anyone can answer! There is speculation that working from home may become generally more prevalent, now that the pandemic has shown that it can be a productive way to work. The theme here seems to be once again - flexibility! Graduates will need to be flexible as the post-pandemic world sorts itself out. This includes being willing to work more from home, if necessary.
What general advice would you give to an Immigration Lawyer?
Shelley Sadin: Communicating clearly, both orally and in writing.
It is identifying and analyzing legal and factual issues with an open, thoughtful, and creative mind.
Working collaboratively with clients, colleagues, opponents, and others involved in a case to solve problems.
Being meticulously ethical and professional in all interactions. This includes treating everyone involved in a matter with respect; recognizing and honoring their different backgrounds and perspectives.
Being self-disciplined, motivated, resilient, courageous, kind, and flexible.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Immigration Lawyers?
Shelley Sadin: We cannot predict whether the pandemic (financial disruption and other harmful effects) will endure.
But we can identify a couple of potential enduring upsides:
The pandemic has shown employers, including law firms, that lawyers can communicate and work remotely. This should open up many more remote job opportunities and increase students' job searches' geographical scope.
The pandemic makes many students stop and think about what matters to them as they pursue their career paths. We always encourage students to be reflective and creative in their career pursuits. The uncertainty and changes in working conditions wrought by the pandemic have underscored the value to students of thinking intentionally about where they want to practice. What field of law -- or law-related field -- would be most rewarding for them?