Benjamin Guevara Email & Phone Number

Albuquerque, New Mexico Area

Provided research and support for a practice focusing on Immigration and Family Law. Immigration Law processes performed include Family-based Visas; Waivers; VAWA (Abused Spouse, Child, Parent); Adjustment of Status; Removal of Conditions on Residence; Citizenship & Naturalization; U Visa (Victims of Crime); DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals); Student visas (F-1 & J-1); and Immigration Court removal defense including bonds. Affirmative Asylum before USCIS. Family Law processes performed include Divorce; Marital Property Settlement; Child Custody; Child Support; and Kinship-Guardianship. Supervise staff in the completion of legal tasks; review work product produced by staff. Provide training to paralegals and legal assistants in the completion of legal tasks. Maintains and updates, retains and administers employee personnel files and updating records, policies, procedures, and benefits resources.

Albuquerque, New Mexico

My curricula during the spring semester of my 3rd year was comprised of:Criminal Procedure IICivil Procedure IIInterviewing, Counseling & NegotiationAppellate Decision Making

My curricula during the fall semester of my 3rd year was comprised of:Business AssociationsProperty IISouthwest Indian Law ClinicEnvironmental Law.In the Southwest Indian Law Clinic I represented low income Native Americans in an array of legal matters.

Albuquerque, New Mexico

I performed legal research for the Real Estate Land Use unit and assisted in appellate litigation, city policy, and ordinance review projects.

Albuquerque, New Mexico

As a Law Clerk I drafted motions, responses, and replies for hearings before the City of Albuquerque Personnel Board and Labor Board. I also collaborated with division attorneys in reviewing interrogatories and in responding to discovery requests.

Albuquerque, New Mexico

Serve as the senior paralegal for complex family-based immigration cases including preparation of petitions and associated waivers related to immigrant visas at US Consulates, affirmative adjustment of status, fiancé visa, and naturalization applications, including independently conducting adjustment of status and immigrant visa interview preparations with clients. Responsible for primary client contact, case management, government filing and ensuring deadlines are met for more than 175 active cases. Analyze cases with attorneys for all possible grounds of inadmissibility and removability to ensure proper case strategy. Collect evidence and draft documents for more than 25 various waivers for submission before USCIS in the US. Supervise Legal Assistants and Law Clerks in the completion and filing immigration petitions and applications with USCIS and coordination of submissions to Department of Justice Immigration Court. Manage daily office operations: Supervise staff in the completion of legal tasks; review work product produced by staff. Provide training to paralegals and legal assistants in the completion of legal tasks. Maintains and updates, retains and administers employee personnel files and updating records, policies, procedures, and benefits resources.

Albuquerque, New Mexico

Serve as the lead paralegal for complex family-based cases including preparation of petitions and associated waivers related to immigrant visas at US Consulates, affirmative adjustment of status, fiancé visa, and naturalization applications, including independently conducting adjustment of status and immigrant visa interview preparations with clients. Responsible for primary client contact, case management, government filing and ensuring deadlines are met for more than 250 active cases. Analyze cases with attorneys for all possible grounds of inadmissibility and removability to ensure proper case strategy. Collect evidence and draft documents for more than 75 extreme hardship waivers (Form I-601) for submission before USCIS in the US and at US Consulates abroad. Supervise Paralegals and Legal Assistants in the completion of domestically filed immigration petitions and applications with USCIS.

Albuquerque, New Mexico

Serve as the senior paralegal for complex family-based immigration cases including preparation of petitions and associated waivers related to immigrant visas at US Consulates, affirmative adjustment of status, fiancé visa, and naturalization applications, including independently conducting adjustment of status and immigrant visa interview preparations with clients. Responsible for primary client contact, case management, government filing and ensuring deadlines are met for more than 200 active cases. Analyze cases with attorneys for all possible grounds of inadmissibility and removability to ensure proper case strategy. Collect evidence and draft documents for more than 50 extreme hardship waivers (Form I-601) for submission before USCIS in the US and at US Consulates abroad. Supervise Paralegals and Legal Assistants in the completion of domestically filed immigration petitions and applications with USCIS. Manage daily office operations: Supervise staff in the completion of legal tasks; review work product produced by staff. Provide training to paralegals and legal assistants in the completion of legal tasks. Maintains and updates, retains and administers employee personnel files and updating records, policies, procedures, and benefits resources.

Albuquerque, New Mexico

Coordinated the Clinical Law Program's case file management system as well as shared responsibility for assisting students in law office management procedures, case file management techniques, and the use of law office management software. Managed the unit's digital and hardcopy files and records. Served as a liaison with other departments and external constituencies. Utilized knowledge and understanding of underlying issues to create, compose, and edit technical and administrative documentation. Researched information and gathered data to assist faculty with class preparation. Prepared special reports, summaries, or replies to external inquiries. Provided assistance with faculty and staff searches, including logging applicants and coordinating interviews. Led and guided the work of lower level staff, and supervised student employees as appropriate.

Albuquerque, New Mexico

Managed cases in the Immigration Court proceedings. Drafted motions, coordinated the collection and submission of client evidence. Prepared and coordinated applications for asylum. Prepared attorney correspondence to trial attorneys and the Immigration Court. Managed Immigration Court hearings and Department of Homeland Security local office interview docket. Screened inquiry calls to determine eligibility for relief from removal.

San Francisco, California

Managed employment-based cases for corporate clients. Prepared and filed new employment, extension of stay, and change of employer nonimmigrant H-1B visa petitions. Prepared and filed border-issued, new employment and extension of stay nonimmigrant TN visa petitions. Prepared nonimmigrant, employment-based, visa applications including the preparation of consular interview packets and conducting visa interview preparatory meetings with clients. Prepared adjustment of status applications for employment and family-based applicants.

Albuquerque, New Mexico

Managed family and employment based cases. Prepared nonimmigrant H-1B visa petitions. Prepared PERM labor certifications and employment-based immigrant petitions. Prepared affirmative family and employment-based adjustment of status applications. Prepared family and employment-based immigrant and nonimmigrant consular applications. Collected evidence and drafted documents for extreme hardship waivers for submission before USCIS in the US and at US Consulates abroad. Collected evidence and constructed applications for Humanitarian Parole. Gave presentations at universities and community centers on employment and family-based immigration law and procedures. Analyzed, assessed, and evaluated the specific needs of clients. Worked with attorneys to construct cases that adhered to legal requirements and standards.

Albuquerque, New Mexico

Coordinated and edited submissions to the Space Technologies and Applications International Forum (STAIF), an annual, international conference hosted by the University of New Mexico. Served as the point of contact liaison in the compilation and editing of submissions to the conference proceedings. Worked directly with authors in academia and industry on the coordination of submissions. Reviewed proofs to ensure quality and accuracy prior to publication. Maintained digital records & hardcopy files.

Juris Doctor, Law

Bachelor Of Arts (Ba), English Language And Literature/Letters

Activities and Societies: Bachelor of Arts in English, magna cum laude. President of the International English Honors Society, Sigma Tau.