For example, an internal memo written by the INS Deputy Commissioner could well be the authoritative source on a particular issue of law. Every year, new legislation, regulations and government agency announcements have profound impact on immigration law practice. Despite the inherent complexities of immigration law, all clients expect their immigration counsel to be expert in their particular matter. Thus, most business immigration attorneys do not dabble in deportation and vice-versa. Even though many capable immigration attorneys are generalists, almost all focus their practices on the one or two specialty areas in which they are strongest.
Immigration law is also a developing field.
That is why, at least in part, most high quality immigration law firms are small boutique practices. Presently, there are no immigration law firms with 100 attorneys under the same roof. A 5-attorney immigration firm with one office is considered to be a large immigration firm. In general, immigration practice is not a mainstay of most large firms and is usually relegated to one or two labor lawyers. Although there are many outstanding business immigration attorneys affiliated with such firms, most of the attorneys who handle immigration matters in large firms do so intermittently, attending to other matters such as labor and employment litigation.