Patty Dietz-Selke Is A Immigration Paralegal In Immigration Law For The Immigration Department At Troutman Sanders, LLP, In Atlanta. Patience Is The Keys To Being An Efficient And Effective Immigration Paralegal.

1. LAWCROSSING
THE LARGEST COLLECTION OF LEGAL JOBS ON EARTH
LEGAL STAFF PROFILE www.lawcrossing.com 1. 800.973.1177
Paralegal Patty Dietz-Selke Practices Patience
[By Robin Salisian]
While patience is a virtue, it’s also a necessary trait for working in immigration law, at least according to Patty Dietz-Selke, a
paralegal in Troutman Sanders’s immigration department.
In fact, “patience,” says Dietz-Selke, pro bono director, job referral director, and As a paralegal one must—it seems—don
choosing this quality from a long list, “is vice president. many hats. Thankfully, Dietz-Selke thrives
probably the most crucial.” on this.
“Immigration law is not only a fascinating
“A paralegal will need patience to (a) handle area of law but also quite a hot topic since “Variety is the spice of life,” she says, so she
the constant calls from the foreign nationals 9/11 and with recent developments,” says loves the various personalities, nationalities,
checking on their petitions, (b) explain the Dietz-Selke. “These days, I get frequent complexities, and intricacies that are part of
immigration procedures, forms, and fees inquires from paralegals who are either her job. She also relishes change and enjoys
to HR managers, who delve very little, if interested in entering this specialty area the “frequent client contact and high level of
ever, into this area of law, and (c) handle the of law or who have questions on aspects independence or autonomy of [her] job.”
bureaucracies and massive paperwork of the of immigration law that have touched their
[Department of State] DOS, the [Department particular casework or assignment.” Today, Dietz-Selke works for the immigration
of Labor] DOL, the [U.S. Citizenship and department at Troutman Sanders, LLP, in
Immigration Services] USCIS, etc., that Immigration law is both detailed and Atlanta, Georgia, a law firm that “focuses on
change laws and procedures so regularly technical and “like other administrative law all aspects of business immigration law.”
that it seldom makes the news.” fields…is procedural, form- and document-
driven or oriented.” In other words, it is “We assist with the transfer of international
In 1982 Dietz-Selke graduated from the “notoriously complex.” business personnel for U.S. and foreign
University of West Florida with a B.A. companies, the defense of corporations
in International Studies and a minor in “One of the main duties of an immigration charged with employer sanction violations,
management. A year later, she obtained law paralegal is to function as a liaison training of HR personnel, the acquisition of
a paralegal certificate. And in 1997 Dietz- between the attorney, the client, and the work visas, labor certification, permanent
Selke began a 10-year teaching stint for various governmental agencies, such as resident status, and citizenship in the United
several Atlanta-based and online paralegal Immigration, the Department of Labor, States, as well as the representation of
programs, teaching courses such as the Department of State, and others,” she corporate clients and individuals before
Introduction to the Paralegal Profession, continues. various administrative agencies and in the
Introduction to Westlaw, Fundamentals federal courts,” says the firm’s website.
of Immigration Law, and Paralegal Ethics “Additionally, an immigration paralegal
as well as job search-skills and resume- drafts applications and petitions for filing and Typically, Dietz-Selke works 45 hours a
writing workshops, an unauthorized practice coordinates the filing of those applications week, plus overtime, which isn’t unusual for
of law seminar, and an immigration law and petitions, drafts letters and affidavits to her.
fundamentals seminar. support applications and petitions, obtains
and organizes documents and researches “The work is fast-paced, varied, and at times
Dietz-Selke also served as a court-appointed availability of foreign documents, coordinates quite hectic,” she says. “Many a day will pass
special advocate (CASA) for abused and translations and equivalency evaluations of during which sudden emergencies or higher
neglected children from 1993 to 1998 as well foreign documents and degrees, researches priorities appear and supersede all other
as on the board of directors for the Georgia immigrant and non-immigrant visa alternatives, plans or priorities. By the end of those types
Association of Paralegals in roles including and prepares clients for interviews.” of days, I usually have completed tons of
PAGE continued on back

2. LAWCROSSING
THE LARGEST COLLECTION OF LEGAL JOBS ON EARTH
LEGAL STAFF PROFILE www.lawcrossing.com 1. 800.973.1177
work but absolutely none of the items which management, good follow-through, follow- On the Net
I had planned to accomplish. This is where up, and the creation of work systems and
patience, multitasking, and flexibility [are] checklists. Master lists of information Troutman Sanders, LLP
really…key.” and documents needed for each type of www.troutmansanders.com/Home.aspx
petition or application; templates for various
What other factors play key roles in types of cover letters, correspondence, Department of Labor
managing such a hectic job? Dietz-Selke notifications, etc.; a calendaring system www.dol.gov
offers further advice: to mark approaching deadlines, follow-up
dates, and overdue approvals or responses; University of West Florida
“The keys to being an efficient and [and] a personal library of reference www.uwf.edu
effective immigration paralegal are material, books, and resources are all vital in
sound organizational skills, skillful time successfully executing the job duties.”
PAGE