Experience

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  Law Office of Jillian N. Kong-Sivert, PLLC

  • 1601 N 7th St. Ste. 300 Phoenix AZ 85006-2222

  • Attorney

    • Mar 2009 - Present
    • 1601 N 7th St. Ste. 300 Phoenix AZ 85006-2222

    All aspects of immigration litigation practice, including: • Defense against removal in Phoenix, Tucson, Eloy, Florence courts; including in-court adjustment, post-order relief from criminal conviction, “green card” cancellation, “10-year” and “special rule” cancellation of removal, and return after removal; • Asylum and CAT protection, including credible fear, affirmative and defensive applications, gender-based and gender-specific persecution, past persecution, NACARA, and Temporary Protected Status;• Family-based immigration, including fiancé, consular processing, provisional waiver, revalidation after death of sponsor, and VAWA battered spouse/ child;• Citizenship, including preservation of residence, certification, and waiver of naturalization testing; • Detention, including alternatives to detention, bond, and humanitarian parole.

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  Littler, Mendelson, Bacon & Dear

  • Phoenix, Arizona Area

  • Associate Attorney

    • 2007 - 2007
    • Phoenix, Arizona Area

    • Managed Adjustment of Status (to LPR) Group, consisting of 15+ paralegals and staff• Transactional, employment-based immigration, PERM; labor certification substitution; Premium Processing; J-1 visa waiver; Outstanding Researcher/ EB-1; priority date retrogression; post-order relief from criminal conviction; derivative family members, including intent presumptions and Child Status Protection Act; job change, including AC-21 portability; travel, including advance parole; expatriate assignment, including reentry permit and preservation of residence for naturalization.

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  Becker, Hadeed, Kellogg & Berry

  • Springfield, Virginia

  • Associate Attorney

    • 2003 - 2006
    • Springfield, Virginia

    All aspects of immigration practice including: • Managed Litigation Group in Immigration Department, consisting of 1 dedicated paralegal and staff; all types of defense against removal, post-order relief; including in-court adjustment, consequences of criminal conviction, cancellation; before Arlington and Baltimore Immigration Courts;• Asylum and CAT protection, credible fear, affirmative and defensive applications, including gender-based and gender-specific persecution, past persecution;• Transactional casework, such as adjustment of status before and after 245(i), labor certification before and after Program Electronic Review Management, work authorization, waiver of restrictions on J-1, diplomat visas, NACARA, VAWA, Temporary Protected Status, certification, naturalization;• Consular processing;• Detention, including alternatives to detention, bail and bond;• Appeals to Board of Immigration Appeals, U.S. Court of Appeals for 4th Circuit;• Mandamus actions before U.S. District Court.

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  Amnesty International USA

  • Washington D.C. Metro Area

  • Interim Director, Refugee Program; Contractor, Refugee Program,

    • 2001 - 2003
    • Washington D.C. Metro Area

    • Pro se assistance and supporting research to un- and under-represented claimants in detention in coordination with national and direct-service programs. • Developed and managed program that provided analysis, documentation, and testimony from volunteer experts beyond public material • Amicus support for impact litigation, including forcible pregnancy exam case• Established a clearinghouse for the organization's archival material and provided interactive help in coordination with the web specialists. • Organized members around special projects, Homeland Security Act, unaccompanied minors, Haitian interdiction, Zadvydas, refugee resettlement shortfall, BIA reorganization and affirmance without opinion, detention standards compliance, and NSEERS registration.• Policy and communications, including drafting official comment on procedural trends and pending laws and regulations and liaison with agency heads and greater practice community.

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  Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service

  • Baltimore, Maryland Area

  • Interim Director, Legal Services; Contractor, Trafficking Program

    • 2000 - 2001
    • Baltimore, Maryland Area

    • Technical support and legal compliance for start-up, BIA accreditation, and management of direct-service programs, including surveys, on-site audits, and “train-the-trainer.”• Expanded practice support for affiliated practitioners, including regular substantive law and strategy bulletins and memoranda, rapid-response individual trouble-shooting, list-serv and work-group conferencing, tracking and resolving recurring issues, collecting, banking, and disseminating resource materials. • Developed new program addressing resources for survivors of domestic violence and trafficking under new law, with special consideration for unaccompanied minor children.• Policy and communications, including drafting official comment on procedural trends and pending laws and regulations and liaison with agency heads and greater practice community.

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  Law Office of Mark F. Scurti, P.A.

  • Baltimore, Maryland Area

  • Associate Attorney

    • 1999 - 2000
    • Baltimore, Maryland Area

    • Immigration practice with special consideration of the unique needs of non-traditional families;• Administrative bill drafting and litigation, Bankruptcy, Domestic, Contract, Trusts and Estates, and Appellate.

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  U.S. Senate, Office of Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski

  • College Park, Maryland

  • Constituent Services Representative for State Department, INS

    • 1996 - 1999
    • College Park, Maryland

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  Maryland General Assembly

  • Annapolis, Maryland

  • Bill Drafter/ Committee Counsel, Department of Legislative Reference

    • 1994 - 1995
    • Annapolis, Maryland

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  Bryan, Jupiter, Lewis & Blanson

  • Greater New Orleans Area

  • Law Clerk

    • 1993 - 1993
    • Greater New Orleans Area

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  B. W. Kahari Legal Practitioners (then Office of BMW Kahari)

  • Harare, Zimbabwe

  • Law Clerk

    • 1992 - 1992
    • Harare, Zimbabwe

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  California State Senate

  • Sacramento, California Area

  • Intern for U.S. Rep. Diane E. Watson

    • 1991 - 1991
    • Sacramento, California Area

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  Edelman

  • Greater New York City Area

  • Intern, New York office; Intern, Washington, DC office

    • 1989 - 1990
    • Greater New York City Area