Paul Soreff

Paul, with over 35 years of immigration practice, has extensive experience in all areas of immigration law.  He has been recognized within the legal and immigrant communities for his skill and insight. He has held leadership positions with the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) at the national and state levels, lectures on immigration topics for continuing legal education seminars, and an Adjunct Professor of Immigration.  In 1999, he founded Soreff Weinrich Law (formerly Soreff Law).

In 2001, Paul started Citizenship Day in Washington State. It is an innovative program where lawyers, paralegals, and members of the community throughout Washington State volunteer their time to assist lawful permanent residents apply to become U.S. citizens. Paul then helped AILA organize Citizenship Day nationally. Currently, over 30 states participate in AILA’s Citizenship Day helping thousands of people become citizens every year. The firm continues to volunteer at Citizenship Days, organized by AILA-WA and the Washington New Americans Program.

 In 2012, Paul worked with Jorge Baron of the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project (NWIRP) to recruit and train more than 200 volunteer lawyers in the Deferred Action For Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. These lawyers volunteered their time at joint AILA/NWIRP DACA Clinics to help unauthorized immigrant children obtain legal status in the U.S.

Admitted to Bar:

Washington State Supreme Court

U.S. District Court Washington State

Kentucky Supreme Court

U.S. Court of Appeals 6th Circuit,

U.S. District Court Western District of Kentucky

U.S. District Court Eastern District of Kentucky

 

Education:

Antioch School of Law, Washington, District of Columbia
J.D. – 1976

Tufts University, Boston, Massachusetts
B.S. – 1970

Honors:

Pro Bono Lawyer Awards, AILA National, AILA-WA, America Bar Association

Outstanding Immigration Lawyer, Best Lawyers in America

Trial Lawyer of the Year, Lawyers for Public Justice

 

Professional Associations and Activities:

American Immigration Lawyers Association Washington State Chapter (AILA-WA)

National Immigration Project of the National Lawyers Guild

Co-Chair, and Past Chair AILA-WA Chapter CLE Committee

Past Chair, AILA-WA Washington Executive Committee

Past Chair, AILA Mid-South Executive Committee

AILA National Board of Governors, National Investment Committee

Washington State Citizenship and Immigration Services Chair

 

Pro-Bono Activities:

Coordinator, Kentucky New Law (IRA-IRA), 1997 to 1997

Coordinator, Kentucky Haitian Pro Bono Project, 1981 to 1986

Started Citizenship Day, an innovative program in Washington State

Organized AILA-WA /Northwest Immigrant Rights Project DACA clinics

 

Classes & Seminars:

Adjunct Professor of Immigration Law, University of Alabama School of Law

Adjunct Professor of Immigration Law, Seattle University School of Law

Regularly presents at continuing legal education seminars on immigration law