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Sheila Quinlan
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Sheila Quinlan
Law Office of Sheila Quinlan
870 Market St
Suite 570
San Francisco, CA 94102-3016
Phone: (415) 399-9075 | Fax: (415) 399-9416
Fast, Friendly and Reliable Service
Legal Topic
Immigration
Preferred New Clients
Our office welcomes all new clients. Our focus is in the area of marriage and family-based immigration and greencards, fiancé petitions, business immigration (including H-1b's) and naturalization. We welcome clients who have family members abroad whom they would like to bring to the United States.
Sub-Categories
Immigration
- Citizenship or Naturalization
- Removal or Deportation
- Employer Work Visas
- Permanent Resident (Green Card)
Bar Admissions
CA, Dec 1995
Bar Number: 180611
Specialty Certifications
Certified Specialist in Immigration and Nationality Law
Other Court Admissions
Supreme Court of California, All Immigration Courts, Northern District of California (Federal). Licensed to practice in all California State Courts
Association Memberships
State Bar of California, Bar Association of San Francisco
Continuing Education
I have completed more than 50 hours in Immigration and Nationality law in the past three years. I regularly attend the annual conference of American Immigration Lawyers Association and other new law seminars throughout the year.
Example Cases
Four of my favorite cases: (1) My client had lived his entire life in Canada and wanted to reside in the U.S. We were able to show that unknown to him he had automatically acquired U.S. citizenship due to his grandfather's birth in Vermont early last century. (2) Two Russian orphans were adopted by a U.S. citizen parent and we were able to show automatic acquisition of citizenship through recently passed law. (3) My client, age 20, was here under provisions of the LIFE Act and we were able to use successfully the new Child Status Protection Act to show her eligibility for a greencard. (4)A Honduran young man was here since childhood and we were able to show his eligibility for a greencard by use of both Honduran paternity/legitimacy laws and the 245(i) grandfathering provision of the Immigration and Nationality Act.
Education
Degree:
B.A.
School:
Reed College
City:
Portland
State:
OR
Year:
1984
Focus and Accomplishments:
Major: Anthropology
Degree:
J.D.
School:
Northern Illinois University, College of Law
City:
Dekalb
State:
IL
Year:
1994
Honors:
Magna Cum Laude
Focus and Accomplishments:
Law Review
Degree:
M.A.
School:
University of Chicago
City:
Chicago
State:
IL
Year:
1986
Focus and Accomplishments:
Major: Anthropology
Number of Attorneys
1
State Licensed In
California
Firm Focus and History
We handle all Immigration and Nationality Matters. My practice was founded in December 1995 at our 211 Gough Street location in San Francisco, California. We moved to the Historic Flood building at Powell and Market in Downtown San Francisco in February 2005 in order to be more conveniently located for our clients.
Previous Employment Summary
Public Defenders Office
Activities and Awards
I have for the past ten years assisted local criminal attorneys, public defenders and other immigration attorneys in determining immigration consequences of criminal convictions and in constructing non-deportable plea bargains.
What is your opinion regarding clients educating themselves on legal issues?
I admire clients who research immigration issues. However, immigration law is very complex and constantly changing, so the advice and assistance of an experienced immigration attorney is frequently necessary. That being said, at least once a week I tell a client or a potential client that they do not need an attorney for a particular issue. For example, it is often possible for a person with no immigration issues to file his or her own naturalization application or attend a naturalization interview without an attorney. This decision always should be made with attention to the facts of the particular case and the capability of the client.
Are you willing to review documents prepared by clients?
This is a frequent request. I cannot review documents that the client intends to file on his or her own. The reason for this is that in the context of immigration law, attorneys prepare documents at a different standard and I would have to re-prepare the document entirely to meet this standard.
Are you willing to coach clients who want to represent themselves?
I am very willing to assist my clients in representing themselves at interviews before the immigration services. When a decision is made that a client will attend an interview without me, I conduct a mock interview so that the client will know precisely what to expect. I have attended hundreds of interviews at INS/CIS in San Francisco, San Jose and Oakland and I can re-enact them very accurately for the client. We do this routinely for clients who will have me attend with them, as well.
Why did you decide to be a lawyer?
I decided to be a lawyer because I enjoy solving problems for people. I decided to become an immigration lawyer because I enjoy the complex intricacies of immigration and nationality law. I believe that immigrants enrich our country.
What work experience and education helps you be a better lawyer?
Working as an intern with the Public Defender.
Why did you decide on your primary area of practice?
I married into a Canadian/ British family. They live on the border of Canada and the U.S. I had a great deal of experience going back and forth across the U.S. border. There are many bi-national and tri-national members of my family. After all this I knew about immigration issues so I decided upon this field by the first year of law school. My son Roy and my niece Ella are now both documented Canadians citizens and U.S. Citizens thanks to my efforts!
What do you like best about your career?
What I enjoy most is having clients return to me again and again over a number of years. For example, a client may begin as a student, go on to H status, get married and receive a marriage based greencard, naturalize later to become a citizen and then petition his or her parents and family members. We are also always pleased to have entire families use our services.
Tell us about your law firm:
I work in an office with several other immigration lawyers, though I am a sole practitioner. My office manager and assistant Genie Lagrosa is invaluable to me.
What are your strengths and style?
Our practice focuses on problem solving. We analyze the facts of your case and determine the correct strategy for your immigration needs. If you are U.S. citizen married to or intending to marry a foreign national, for example, we discuss all possible options available to you. Since I have a wide range of experience in filing applications and petitions with the immigration services, I can advise you from a practical standpoint as well as a legal standpoint.
I prefer to meet with every client personally and determine an appropriate legal strategy. I am continually available for follow-up questions to those who retain me for services. I personally supervise and complete all necessary paperwork. Ideally I like to get an idea of the case initially on the phone so that I can tell a potential client what to bring to the initial consultation.
Personal Interests:
I enjoy spending time with my family, especially with my husband John and my six year old son Roy.
Office Manager/Assistant
Genie Lagrosa
Fax
(415) 399-9416
Office Hours
Monday through Friday
9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Emergency after hours by appointment
Emergency After Hours
Yes
Foreign Languages
Tagalog, some Spanish
Fixed-Price Services and Fees
We offer flat fees at reasonable rates. Our fees generally range from $750 to $2,500.
Hourly Rates
None
Free Initial Consultation?
We offer free office consultations for person seeking advice concerning family and marriage-based immigration, fiancé visas, employment-based immigration and naturalization. For consultations where the primary question concerns a criminal matter we require a fee of $150. Simply phone or email us to schedule a consultation. If you have a simple question or request, feel free to phone or email for a quick response.
Typical Retainer
We have no typical retainer because we handle such a wide range of cases.
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Attorneys have passed a licensing check. Nolo has confirmed that every member attorney has a valid license and is in good standing with the applicable bar associations upon joining the directory.
Directory lawyers are required to notify Nolo immediately if they become the subject of any disciplinary action by any bar association.
