2011 AILA Annual Conference on Immigration Law
June 15-18, 2011
San Diego, California

Educational Program Overview

Specialized Networking Events

More Free Time During The Day

Special Sessions

Asylum

EXPANDED! Federal Court Litigation/Criminal Tracks

Business Immigration

NEW IN 2011! Global Migration/Consular Processing Track

Compliance Sessions

Family Immigration

Fundamentals Track

Law Practice Success

Annual Conference Program Committee

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AILA's 2011 Annual Conference offers you over 115 substantive learning sessions to choose from! The preliminary program (with session topics, discussion points and invited faculty) as well as the Day-At-A-Glance is available. Customize your schedule with myPlanner.

There is no better way to enhance your immigration practice knowledge and earn CLE credits than by attending the 2011 AILA Annual Conference at the Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego! Whether you are attending the conference and adding a family vacation, attending to catch-up with old friends or attending to get a feel for a new career or new opportunities in immigration law, you won't be disappointed by all this conference and great locale have to offer.

The 2011 Annual Conference Program Committee has created a fabulous program jam packed with new offerings. Here are some highlights you can't afford to miss!

Each day there are specialized networking events scheduled to provide attendees with a focused way to meet colleagues in their interest area. Don't miss out on this great opportunity to meet new friends. Events include: Speed Networking, In-House Counsel Networking Session, Got a Job/Need a Job Networking Event, Paralegal Networking Session and a Solo Networking Session.

The program has been packed with extended networking breaks each morning and afternoon so that you have dedicated time to visit the Exhibit Hall, network with colleagues or take a moment to catch-up with the office.

Hot Topics Strategy Session with AILA Superstars
You can't miss this opportunity to hear from some of AILA's superstar attorneys who will strategize on the most current issues facing immigration practitioners. Come listen to cutting edge strategies for advocating and litigating on behalf of your clients. This session will go beyond the usual hot topics panel and will delve into actual strategy for how to address these issues.

Military Issues for the Immigration Practitioner and AILA MAP Program
The Federal Government increasingly recognizes that concerns about family members can affect the preparedness of military personnel. This session will address the administrative and legal fixes for military families, especially of those deployed overseas. In addition, panelists will explore how military service can positively or negatively affect the immigration status of an individual, as well as inform immigration practitioners about AILA's successful Military Assistance Program (MAP).

Mexican Asylum Cases
As violence has reached epidemic proportions in Mexico, more Mexican nationals are seeking asylum in the U.S. than ever before. Many of these claims are based upon persecution on account of a particular social group, and present novel legal issues. Panelists will discuss emerging trends and legal theories in representing Mexican asylum-seekers.

Litigation Masters: How Did You Think of That?
Have you ever wondered how the top immigration litigators came up with their most creative ideas? Are they mad geniuses, or is there a systematic way that they reached their biggest victories? Listen to a panel of some of the bar's best litigators, sharing with you the secrets to their success.

The Immigration Consequences of Sex Offenses
This panel will focus on the expanding definition of sexual abuse of a minor and will discuss the immigration consequences of other sexual offenses.

Recent Developments and Strategic Considerations in Dealing with Lawful Status and Unlawful Presence
This panel will discuss recent decisions and relevant USCIS guidance on lawful status, unlawful presence and other elusive concepts that can affect your client's right to remain in the United States. Panelists will also provide practical suggestions on how to advise clients given the unsettled state of the law in these areas.

Export Control for Immigration Lawyers
Violations of U.S. export control laws can subject companies to severe sanctions and subject their foreign national employees to grounds of inadmissibility and deportability. This panel will give an overview of the Commerce Department's export administration regulations, what to watch for, and how to protect your clients.

Outbound Immigration-Part I: Europe, Middle East and Africa
This panel will focus on non U.S. immigration issues for U.S. immigration lawyers who deal with local counsel vs. other service providers when advising clients with global visa issues in Europe, the Middle East and Asia.

Outbound Immigration-Part II: Asia Pacific
This panel will focus on non U.S. immigration issues for U.S. immigration lawyers who deal with (either directly or indirectly) outbound immigration to the Asia-Pacific region.

Outbound Immigration-Part III: Americas
Using the U.S. system as a point of reference, this panel will compare the Canadian and Mexican immigration systems. In particular, panelists will discuss the possibility of coming to Canada and Mexico as a visitor or permanent resident and explore some of the stumbling blocks that individuals may encounter. Finally, this panel will touch on immigration to other Central and South American countries.

ICE Worksite Investigations-Part I: From Service to OCAHO
The rise in worksite enforcement activity has generated a slew of questions. This panel of experts, including government representatives will discuss the current worksite investigation process, the guidance to field officers, the assessment of administrative fines, and the process for litigating the assessment before an administrative tribunal.

ICE Worksite Investigations-Part II: Advanced Employer Sanctions, Private Contracts & Crimmigration
The Federal Government isn't the only party interested in enforcing employment verification provisions. Interestingly, the marketplace is full of examples of large businesses and contractors privatizing the verification and E-Verify process-sometimes with grave consequences for compliance failure. This session for advanced practitioners will address common contractual provisions related to verification and E-Verify, will outline strategies to address them, and will discuss the more significant criminal consequences of compliance failure.

Advise and Advocate Without Crossing the Line
As the attorney, you want to provide accurate information to help those with immigration issues while avoiding giving advice that could be considered improper or unethical. This session will discuss how to best advise and advocate without crossing the line.

Waivers: Tips from the Experts
This advanced panel will brainstorm various strategies to present winning waivers.

Mock Immigration Hearing-Part I: From Arrest to Bond to NTA
Every lawyer dreads that panicked phone call from the client's family when the client has been arrested. This panel will provide the tools to effectively assist clients in the immediate aftermath of an arrest, especially if the client is being detained, and will address how to get the case into the proper procedural posture for trial.

Mock Immigration Hearing-Part II: Relief, Filing Applications and the Individual Merits Hearing
The NTA has been sorted and you know the mountain your client has to climb-now what? This panel will show you where to file your applications for relief, what to file when, and how to develop your case. Panelists will then move on to the big day-the merits hearing. Even experienced immigration lawyers get butterflies today but this session will help you minimize those butterflies and teach you how to get through the hearing effectively.

What Your Client Hasn't Told You, But Is on Facebook: Gathering Information in the Internet Age
Are you still only using an FBI rap sheet and FOIA to gather information on your client, when the government is using Facebook, and ChoicePoint? This session will provide a systematic way for you to gather the information you need to best represent your client in litigation.

The Business Side of Running a Law Practice
"Lawyers make terrible business people." The purpose of this panel is to prove that adage wrong. Panelists will give real life practical tips and strategies to assist immigration lawyers to improve their systems, practices and procedures to run a smooth and functional law office.

Jeff Joseph, Annual Conference Chair
Roberto D. Caballero, Annual Conference Vice-Chair
Laura Lichter, AILA First Vice-President
Grace Akers Woods, AILA Director of Education

Enforcement/Due Process/Criminal/Asylum Sessions
Erich C. Straub, Chair
Cynthia A. Aziz
Andres Benach
Regina Germain
Hilary A. Han
Noemi E. Masliah
Lee A. O'Connor*
Trina Realmuto
Lisa Ellen Seifert
Olsi Vrapi

Family Sessions
Robin D. O'Donoghue, Chair
Peter L. Ashman*
James W. Austin
C. Lynn Calder
Gloria A. Goldman
Kathrin S. Mautino
Marcia N. Needleman
Tarik H. Sultan

Business Sessions
Roberto D. Caballero, Chair
Jeremy Fudge
Vic Goel
David Grunblatt
Kate Kalmykov
Kevin Robert Lashus
Allen Orr
Heather N. Segal
Anastasia Tonello

Fundamentals & Special Sessions
Dagmar Butte, Chair
Cory Caouette
R. Mark Frey
Annaluisa Padilla
Carla Tarazi

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

* Participated on committee before sworn in as an Immigration Judge