Melissa Drennan Email and Phone Number

Provide immigration legal services for various industries including banking, marketing, advertising, legal, higher education, and insurance, as well as individual clients. Submit employment and family-based petitions for foreign nationals seeking temporary and permanent status in the U.S. via U.S. Embassies/Consulates, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, and the U.S. Department of Labor. Compile B, E-1, E-2, E-2 Company Registration, E-3/E-3D, H-1B/H-4, J-1/J-2, L-1/L-2, Blanket L Company Registration, O-1/O-2/O-3, P-2, TN/TD, I-130, I-140, RFE, Adjustments of Status, Naturalization, and PERM documentation. Advise in Department of Justice investigations. Advise on F and G visa matters. Prepare emergency visa appointment and satisfactory departure requests. Prepare J-1 waivers. Assist with renunciation of U.S. citizenship. Conduct large-scale I-9 review/audit projects. Advise and prepare legal documentation for Special Immigrant Juvenile, asylum, U visa, legislative research, and uncontested divorce pro bono matters.

Researched and analyzed human trafficking trends in New Jersey. Performed research in support of human trafficking and addiction presentation. Developed, organized, and performed research in support of OIFP's World Elder Abuse Awareness Day event. Prepared memorandum on elder trafficking, Peggy's Law, the Medical Assistance and Health Services Act, New Jersey False Claims Act, and New Jersey Fraud Prevention Act. Shadowed case status review meeting and pretrial intervention hearing.

Served as Paralegal for various industries including banking, marketing, advertising, and insurance companies, as well as individual clients. Submitted employment and family-based petitions for foreign nationals seeking temporary and permanent status in the U.S. via U.S. Embassies/Consulates, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, and the U.S. Department of Labor. Compile B, E-1, E-2, E-2 Company Registration, E-3, H-1B/H-4, J-1, L-1/L-2, Blanket L Company Registration, O-1/O-2/O-3, P-2, TN/TD, I-130, I-140, RFE, Adjustments of Status, Naturalization, and PERM documentation. Run priority date report for all clients. Liaised with immigration coordinators, human resources personnel, hiring managers, recruiters, and foreign nationals. Attended training courses relevant to immigration policies and procedures. Participated in large-scale I-9 review/audit project. Participated in successfully obtaining Special Immigrant Juvenile status for a minor from Guatemala.

Conducted legal research and prepared legal documents for and shadowed in the Firm's Business Immigration, Bankruptcy, Tax, Corporate, White Collar Defense Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Corporate, and Employment Litigation departments. Participated in Bankruptcy and Corporate simulations. Completed Special Immigrant Juvenile pro bono assignments.

Served as sole Assistant Paralegal for multi-billion dollar international engineering company client. Accomplished approximately $30,000 per month in legal fees. Submitted employment and family based petitions for foreign nationals seeking employment in the U.S. via U.S. Embassies/Consulates, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, and the U.S. Department of Labor. Compiled E-1, L-1/L-2, TN/TD, H-1B/H-4, K, I-90, I-130, I-140, RFE, Adjustments of Status, and PERM documentation. Liaised with visa coordinators, human resources personnel, hiring managers, and foreign nationals. Attended webinars and training courses relevant to immigration policies and procedures.

Assisted Pennsylvania State Representative with various office tasks and constituent work in the 136th legislative district. Completed semester long project on the Pennsylvania Property Tax/Rent Rebate program. Attended tour of the Pennsylvania State House, committee sessions, and House of Representatives sessions. Utilized the Constituent Tracking System (CTS) to maintain constituent records.

Participated in 8 week internship in the human rights organization’s Major Gifts (Development) Department. Responsible for helping manage relationships with high-level ($5,000+) donors and prospects. Conducted donor research. Assisted in planning fundraising events. Managed donor databases. Compiled donor profiles. Presented two-month research project on potential online and direct mail fundraising methods. Acted as an assistant to Amnesty International delegates at the United Nations 3rd Preparatory Committee for the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT). Served as a June Board Meeting assistant.

Participated in a 10 week internship with Amnesty International's Southern Regional Office. For my first four weeks I was a general intern, attending to the daily projects of the Office Administrator, Field Organizers, Regional Director, and Senior Development Officer. Attended weekly staff meetings. Tabled at sponsored and cosponsored events and recruited members. Completed a two and a half month research project on prisoner mistreatment in the state of Georgia. For the remaining six weeks of my internship, I worked specifically with the Senior Development Officer (MGO). Composed monthly updates for donors, and organized the MGO's travel details, created hourly itineraries, and talking points for donor meetings, and recorded budget expenditure information at the conclusion of his trips in the region. Trained incoming Development Intern.