Expert Analysis

• A Blueprint For Addressing The Immigration Court Backlog

  

  Since 2009, far more persons have been placed in removal proceedings than U.S. immigration courts could accommodate, but the government can reduce the 1.9 million-case backlog with steps that include reforming the court and the broader immigration system in a way that still prioritizes both due process and immigration enforcement, says Donald Kerwin at the Center for Migration Studies.

• How Multiagency Sanctions Enforcement Alters Compliance

  

  Recent indictments and guidance emphasizing scrutiny of third-party intermediaries make clear the government's increasingly interagency approach to sanctions enforcement and its view that financial institutions are the first line of defense against evasion efforts, particularly in connection with Russia's invasion of Ukraine, say attorneys at Ballard Spahr.

• Level Up Lawyers' Business Development With Gamification

  

  With employee engagement at a 10-year low in the U.S., there are several gamification techniques marketing and business development teams at law firms can use to make generating new clients and matters more appealing to lawyers, says Heather McCullough at Society 54.

• Mallory Ruling Leaves Personal Jurisdiction Deeply Unsettled

  

  In Mallory v. Norfolk Southern Railway, a closely divided U.S. Supreme Court recently rolled back key aspects of its 2017 opinion in Daimler AG v. Bauman that limited personal jurisdiction, leaving as many questions for businesses as it answers, say John Cerreta and James Rotondo at Day Pitney.

• H-1B Registration System Is Broken But Not Beyond Repair

  

  Recent U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services statistics confirm that the H-1B registration system, the primary path to U.S. employment for high-skilled foreign nationals, is in dire straits, but ongoing transparency, a willingness to seek input from stakeholders and thoughtful regulatory reforms could ensure its continued viability, say attorneys at Berry Appleman.

• A Midyear Look At Expected Changes In Business Immigration

  

  While legislative immigration reform remains a nonstarter this year, U.S. businesses and their advisers should keep an eye on agency-level regulatory efforts that are underway, which may bring significant changes to filing fees, employment verification, visa renewal processing and more, says Rami Fakhoury at Fakhoury Global.

• 5 Ways Firms Can Rethink Office Design In A Hybrid World

  

  As workplaces across the country adapt to flexible work, law firms must prioritize individuality, amenities and technology in office design, says Kristin Cerutti at Nelson Worldwide.

• Opinion

  Bar Score Is Best Hiring Metric Post-Affirmative Action

  

  After the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling striking down affirmative action admissions policies, law firms looking to foster diversity in hiring should view an applicant's Multistate Bar Examination score as the best metric of legal ability — over law school name or GPA, says attorney Alice Griffin.

• Ghosting In BigLaw: How To Come Back From Lack Of Feedback

  

  Junior associates can feel powerless when senior colleagues cut off contact instead of providing useful feedback, but young attorneys can get back on track by focusing on practical professional development and reexamining their career priorities, says Rachel Patterson at Orrick.

• Pugin Ruling Lowers Bar For Felony-Based Deportation

  

  The U.S. Supreme Court's recent decision in Pugin v. Garland that an offense may constitute an obstruction of justice aggravated felony, even when an investigation or proceeding is not pending, may allow the government to seek deportation for other low-level offenses never intended to be grounds for felony-based deportation, says Peter Alfredson at Capital Area Immigrants' Rights Coalition.

• Steps To Success For Senior Associates

  Excerpt from Practical Guidance

  

  Adriana Paris at Rissman Barrett discusses the increased responsibilities and opportunities that becoming a senior associate brings and what attorneys in this role should prioritize to flourish in this stressful but rewarding next level in their careers.

• Legal Profession Must Do More For Lawyers With Disabilities

  

  At the start of Disability Pride month, Rosalyn Richter at Arnold & Porter looks at why lawyers with disabilities are significantly underrepresented in private practice, asserting that law firms and other employers must do more to conquer the implicit bias that deters attorneys from seeking accommodations.

• Opinion

  Appellate Funding Disclosure: No Mandate Is Right Choice

  

  The Advisory Committee on Appellate Rules' recent decision, forgoing a mandatory disclosure rule for litigation funding in federal appeals, is prudent, as third-party funding is only involved in a minuscule number of federal cases, and courts have ample authority to obtain funding information if necessary, says Stewart Ackerly at Statera Capital.

• RETRACTED: How New Prevailing Wage Rule May Affect H-1B Employment

  

  Editor's note: This guest article has been removed due to an inaccurate discussion of the status of the U.S. Department of Labor's prevailing wage rule, "Strengthening Wage Protections for the Temporary and Permanent Employment of Certain Aliens in the United States." The rule is no longer on the Biden administration's current rulemaking agenda.

• Opinion

  Congress Should Pass Bipartisan Immigration Reform Bill

  

  By reforming visa allocation, expediting asylum processing, creating new employment visas and creating a path forward for individuals lacking permanent legal status, the recently introduced Dignity Act presents an opportunity for much-needed reform and deserves support from both sides of the aisle, says Laura Reiff at Greenberg Traurig.