23 www.lawyer-monthly.com Lawyer Monthly Women in Law Awards 2024 a result, the majority of our Canadian clients continue to be able to at least visit their loved ones while their cases pend. Further, Canadians are considered “non-controlled” visitors to the U.S. which means that their entrances and exits to and from the U.S. do not need to be recorded and they, unlike other nationalities, do not need to be provided with a specific departure date. Changes implemented in 2013 however, resulted in the recording of such entrances and the provision of a specific departure date for a Canadian may be entirely unaware. Further, even if no specific date of departure is provided one branch of the Department of Homeland Security takes the position that even if no specific departure date was provided an individual can be barred from reentering the U.S. again for either 3 or 10 years for presumably overstaying a date for which there is no record. We provide thousands of Canadians with the tools they need so that they can successfully, manage continued travel to the U.S. without hitting an invisible wall. What advice would you offer to young women in considering a career I law, especially in specialized fields such as immigration law? When I first started practicing law, there was little talk of “life balance” or “taking care of yourself.” Rather, you started out of the gate running and knew that for many years your life would not be your own. Thankfully, I think that this has changed and might be one upshot of the recent pandemic. No matter what we do for “work” we need also to take care of ourselves and our families and this has to be part of our work equation. That is not to say that there won’t be times when they need to put a client’s work first because of a strict deadline, but even in those times, it is possible to incorporate family. I rarely, if ever, missed having dinner with my children. If I could not get away, they came to the office, and we “picnicked” at the conference room table. While on AILA’s executive committee, I traveled frequently. I taught my kids about where I was going and told them what I was hoping to accomplish. They felt connected to me and the world. They asked questions. When I could, I brought them. There are so many life lessons to be learned in this field such as the importance of diversity, human rights, politics, and cultural uniqueness sharing them with one’s family and children will provide them with tools they need to become caring conscious and kind beings. It will also and most importantly allow them to enjoy their career and look at it as positive and not an interruption. Looking to the future, what are your aspirations for Holman Immigration Law, and how do you envision your practice evolving to meet the changing needs of your clients? If you listen to or read any news it should come as no surprise that our country’s immigration laws are in desperate need of overhaul. Unfortunately, the lives of the most deserving and have been stymied by politics. Immigration is one of the top and most divisive items on political agendas. Our laws, practices and procedures for immigration could change quickly and drastically. We are already gearing up to anticipate potential changes based on prior administrations so that we can be ahead of the game and guide our clients correctly. “There are so many life lessons to be learned in this field such as the importance of diversity, human rights, politics, and cultural uniqueness.” USA
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