Immigration paralegals might spend most of their time on paperwork, but the role has always been about so much more than that.
You're involved in work that changes lives. Preparing forms, completing intake interviews, helping clients tell their stories—all while keeping track of constantly shifting regulations and tight deadlines. Your work requires patience, diligence, cultural awareness, and strong communication.
We spoke with experienced immigration professionals to understand what excellence looks like in modern paralegal support. These candid conversations revealed something essential: today’s best paralegals are part technician, part teammate, and part tenacious advocate.
5 must-have skills for immigration paralegals
1. A strong ethical compass (and the confidence to use it)
Attorney Flavia Santos Lloyd has walked the full path, from receptionist to paralegal to immigration attorney and mentor. She’s seen the ethical traps up close.
“Immigration is full of ethical pitfalls,” she told us. “Especially when you speak the client’s language and develop rapport. It’s like a video game with hidden traps.”
The best paralegals in 2025 know where the lines are and hold them firmly, even when it’s uncomfortable. That means:
- Never offering legal advice (even when you know the answer)
- Being upfront when clients say “don’t tell your boss”
- Having clear escalation protocols in place when something feels off
Beyond personal judgment, ethical legal work requires strong systems. A great paralegal works best when backed by an ethical culture and leadership. “It comes from the top,” says Flavia. “A supportive managing attorney who puts guardrails in place is key.”
If your boss is unavailable or the structure is unclear, turn to resources like AILA’s Paralegal Hub or the ILRC for guidance. Know where to go when you need help.
2. The ability to speak in detail
If there’s one thing Shannon Shepherd, a partner with Immigration Attorneys, LLP in Chicago values most in a paralegal, it’s consistency and attention to detail. While her firm doesn’t expect around-the-clock perfection, paralegals must be process-oriented thinkers who double-check their work. “Immigration law is so complicated that even a minor typo or mistake can cause a huge problem,” she says, emphasizing how directly the work impacts her clients’ futures.
Whether it’s triple-verifying a client’s mailing address or flagging a mismatch between form fields and declarations, great paralegals prevent problems before they start. Modern habits of highly detail-oriented paralegals include:
- Using firm templates and case checklists consistently
- Keeping a clean, well-labeled digital file structure
- Confirming key data in multiple places (and documenting it)
The strongest legal teams rely on shared vocabulary, tight version control, and regular check-ins. Paralegals are at the heart of that coordination. When they consistently get the details right, the whole team wins.
3. Curiosity that drives continuous learning
Immigration law is not static. Rules shift. Forms get updated. Administrative interpretations evolve and sometimes even reverse.
We spoke to Kevin A. Gregg, a partner at Kurzban Kurzban Tetzeli & Pratt and host of the weekly immigration case law podcast, Immigration Review. Kevin put it plainly in our interview: “The second you start thinking that you know everything is the second you get in trouble.”
The top paralegals in 2025 are students of the game. They subscribe to alerts, attend webinars, and ask questions. They bring insights back to their teams, often becoming the internal subject matter expert on a particular visa type, USCIS update, or state bar rule.
Some practical ways to stay sharp:
- Sign up for AILA’s daily summary and set aside time each week to digest it
- Watch conference recordings with your team and debrief key takeaways
- Keep a shared Slack or Teams thread for changes in policy or procedure
Learning isn’t a luxury. It’s how great support staff bring outsized value to attorneys and help the firm stay ahead of changes so they can drive more favorable case outcomes.
4. Tech-savvy enough to save the day
We’re well into the era of AI assistance and cloud-based case management. That means top paralegals are expected to use and maximize the tools at their fingertips.
John Khosravi, an attorney, professor, and host of the Immigration Lawyers Podcast, emphasizes the role of paralegals in evaluating and championing new tech tools: “They’re the ones in the system all day. When they speak up about what works and what doesn’t, we listen." Even if you find a technique that saves five minutes, he says, “that’s gold. Tell us.”
Examples of value-adding tech habits:
- Using AI tools like ChatGPT securely and ethically (e.g., summarizing memos or client conversations)
- Leveraging a client portal to streamline communications and provide real-time client updates
- Spotting inefficiencies in current workflows and suggesting improvements
Remember: ethical guidelines come first. As Flavia reminds us, “You can’t paste client information into an open source AI model. Period.” Stick to using approved enterprise-secure tools and always know your firm’s guardrails.
5. Emotional intelligence (and a dash of grit)
Perhaps the most underappreciated trait of a great immigration paralegal is their emotional stamina.
“You’re responsible for someone’s dream,” says Flavia. “Whether they’re coming through the border or investing millions,” the stakes are life-changing. Great paralegals understand this. They balance compassion with clarity. They remain calm when clients are emotional. And they show up every day, even when timelines are long and rules are murky.
That kind of strength doesn’t come from nowhere. It comes from:
- Boundaries and wellness practices (Flavia’s team schedules monthly meditation and mental health workshops)
- A supportive team culture that recognizes wins
- Strong internal communication and clearly defined roles
A new standard for a new era
The bar is high for immigration paralegals in 2025. We think that’s a good thing. When support professionals are empowered to lead, learn, and use the best tools at their disposal, our clients, attorneys, and the legal system as a whole stand to benefit.
To the paralegals and case workers who are quietly keeping the wheels turning: we see you. You are essential.
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