Monday Mentors with Dallas Immigration Lawyer Jessica Mullins-Ta

Jessica Mullins-Ta, a corporate immigration lawyer and partner Berry Appleman & Leiden in Dallas, joins us on today's show. Jessica talks about knowing how to look for the answer, prioritizing balance, and eliminating those resume typos!

Her firm/practice

• represent companies in bringing their employees to the US so they can get the appropriate visas that allow them to work
• she joined the firm out of law school to do more of their litigation matters, but stayed on and grew into the immigration practice
• regardless of what's going on in the politics of it, there is always an impact and always changes in substance and emphasis
• most embassies are shut down right now; many workers are stuck there and can't get back to the U.S.
• businesses are no longer satisfied with pausing travel, so executives and consultants are traveling internationally which has been a challenge with state department restrictions (but those have relaxed some of those (as of the date of recording / July 8)
• large businesses make up a big percentage of certain types of work visas (especially those for quick, one day travel/meeting types of visas among C-level), but other types of workers and visas can be found throughout the economy through mid-size and small businesses, particularly in the STEM fields
  • tech
  • oil & gas
  • government (and contractors)
  • universities
  • research
• in some areas, the regulations haven't been updated quick enough to keep up with the advancements in tech

Advice to lawyers in practice

• Need to overcome the fear of not knowing
  • You won't know the answer but you have the tools, and that's okay
• Understand where to start looking for an answer, and take the lead on what you think is the right direction.
• She is a working mom who errs on the side of not saying no (to anyone), and that isn't sustainable
  • burnout is real
  • balance is important
  • even if you feel like you can take more on, that doesn't mean you should
  • take your full maternity leave
  • if you are unhappy it may be how you are practicing law and not the actual practice of law; evaluate this before you leave the profession
  • many times we put this pressure/expectation on ourselves
  • Can help to have a California/international offices of your firm which typically has more mental health/vacation/leave
• Don't be overconfident and miss an issue or a risk, or present a client with assurances that you shouldn't/can't provide
  • Be eager to learn and ask questions

Advice to Lawyers On The Lateral Market

• No typos! Employers will think you don't care enough to make sure the resume is correct, your work product won't be good either
• Know what the firm is looking for. Do they need a writer? A trial lawyer? An administrative/forms lawyer?
  • Highlight your strengths, interests and experiences so the firm can figure out if you fit what they need
• In the interview, are you engaging? Relatable? Client skills are harder to teach than the actual substantive law, so that is what they are looking to see whether you have it or you don't.

Final Thoughts

• Leadership appreciates people who work hard and try hard, and if you do what it takes to learn what you don't know, it will be appreciated.
• Integrity matters

Rapid Fire Questions

1. Name one trait/characteristic you most want to see in an associate: willingness to try
2. What habit has been key to your success: always assuming I'm wrong, and trying to prove it
3. Favorite app/productivity tool: proprietary firm dashboard
4. What would be listed first on the interest line of your resume: hip-hop music (Jay-Z)
5. Favorite legal movie: Legally Blonde

Thanks again to Jessica Mullins-Ta for joining us on today's show!