Insights

Field guides, essays and notes from inside immigration practice.

Field guideAvailable now

AI for the Immigration Lawyer

A plain-language primer on what AI tools actually are, what they can and cannot do in an immigration practice, and three non-negotiable rules for using them in client files. Covers four practical workflows — intake summaries, document drafting, and more — with clear guidance on where human review is required.

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5 Questions to Ask Before Adopting AI

Before any tool goes near a client file, these are the five questions every immigration attorney should be able to answer. Covers AI capability in immigration-specific workflows, output supervision, integration fit, error recovery, and audit trail requirements.

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Answering the AI Concerns Lawyers Raise

A direct response to the objections immigration attorneys most commonly raise about AI adoption. Addresses professional responsibility concerns, accuracy, confidentiality, and supervision duties — and makes the case for controlled use over avoidance.

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The Immigration Firm AI Toolkit and Resource Map

A framework for evaluating and assembling an AI stack for an immigration practice. Rather than specific product recommendations, this guide focuses on tool categories, evaluation criteria, and alignment with ABA Opinion 512 and the NIST AI Risk Management Framework.

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An AI Implementation Roadmap for Immigration Firms

A workflow-first approach to rolling out AI in an immigration firm. Prioritizes automation by impact and risk, outlines a phased strategy, and includes a 30-day implementation plan designed for firms that want to move deliberately rather than reactively.

Field guideAvailable now

Agentic AI for the Immigration Practice

What agentic AI is, how it functions inside an immigration case file, and how to adopt it without compromising client confidentiality. Covers the workflows where agentic AI delivers the most value — intake, evidence collection, document assembly — and the guardrails required at each stage.

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Agentic AI for the Immigration Practice (Updated)

An expanded edition covering agentic AI adoption in immigration law, with additional guidance on confidentiality architecture, staged integration levels, and firm-specific deployment considerations. Designed for attorneys ready to move beyond single-prompt tools.

Field guideAvailable now

AI Across the Life of a Removal Case

A stage-by-stage look at where AI applies in a removal case — from initial intake through appeal — with explicit lines drawn around what remains the attorney's responsibility. Structured to help attorneys see the practical entry points without losing sight of professional obligations.

Field guideAvailable now

Before You Paste That Intake Into ChatGPT

A field guide on the confidentiality risks of using public AI tools with client data. Explains the material differences between public and enterprise-grade AI — data handling, retention, and privacy policy terms — and what those differences mean for your bar obligations.

Field guideAvailable now

AI Governance for the Immigration Practice

Most firms have an AI policy. Few have governance. This piece distinguishes the two and explains why the gap creates professional liability exposure. Covers governance frameworks, practical controls, and how to build a structure that actually protects client files.

Field guideAvailable now

Contracting With AI Vendors

What immigration firms need to negotiate before signing any AI vendor agreement. Covers data ownership, retention policies, subprocessor clauses, breach notification, and the red flags that signal a vendor is not prepared to protect confidential client information.

Field guideAvailable now

Managing AI Hallucinations in Immigration Filings

AI invents cases, country conditions, and deadlines that look credible in a filing. This guide explains why hallucinations occur, how they appear in immigration documents specifically, and lays out a verification workflow to stop them from reaching official filings.

Field guideAvailable now

AI in Immigration Court

What attorneys need to know about AI failures in court filings — including sanctions, standing orders, and judicial responses to AI-assisted work product. Includes a practical checklist for fulfilling verification duties before anything AI-generated is submitted to a tribunal.

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Essays from inside immigration practice, published on Substack as they are ready.

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Current notes

Short working notes and updates are posted to the Substack as they develop.

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