Introduction
Many families are fearful of the US immigration system and the mistakes that they feel they cannot afford to make along the way. Families rely on attorneys to assist and advise them through the immigration process. Attorneys rely on continuing legal education to remain current on the myriad of issues that are affecting their clients. It can be very difficult to choose an appropriate immigration law continuing legal education (CLE) program. This article will explore the best practices for choosing an immigration law CLE program and obtaining maximum value from the CLE program chosen. When an attorney does not have proper education on immigration law, the attorney and his or her clients can be put in harm’s way, feeling very alone in their search for justice in the US.
Understand Immigration Law CLE Requirements and Opportunities
For practicing attorneys, the requirements for Continuing Legal Education (CLE) can seem to change frequently. And while attorneys are given time to comply with the requirements of their state’s bar association, that time can pass quickly. Here are the North Carolina CLE requirements for even and odd year admittees.
CLE programs focused on immigration law are good for several reasons. For one, they help the attending attorney learn about the latest changes in immigration law, including the recent updates to the border policy. Furthermore, by attending a webinar on recent developments at the border the practicing attorney will gain knowledge on the latest developments in border policy and how to apply that information to cases and the needs of clients. Attending these programs will allow the attorney to be able to better assist individuals with related legal problems and to handle cases that involve immigration law. In addition, by attending webinars and other CLE programs, attorneys can learn about the many issues that are affecting individuals and how to assist them in asserting their rights.
Select Relevant CLE Courses Tailored to Your Practice
Choosing between so many immigration law CLEs for the immigration lawyer CLE practitioner can be difficult. We can tell you which of the many CLE programs will be of value to the family-based immigration, asylum, deportation defense, etc. practitioner. Some of the largest volume of family-based visa applications are processed in North Carolina and Florida. Thus, in order to be the best immigration attorney, the practitioner must specialize in CLE programs for immigration law in order to be the best to practice and to serve his/her client to the best of his/her ability.
For example, many of his/her clients will be traveling to their home countries or other countries and thus will need assistance with entering and trying to reenter the U.S. (see Traveling & entering the US in times of rapid change). There are also a lot of immigration law CLE courses that will assist the practitioner in handling all of the many ethical concerns when practicing the field of immigration and moving people to and from the U.S. in order to aid in their endeavors.
See below for a list of recommended sources for valuable and current CLE programs which include the recommended AILA immigration law CLE Center. Many of the best immigration law CLEs come from the very organizations of the attorneys practicing immigration law. The organizations can point the practitioner to the good and current immigration law CLE. Thus, he/she will receive good current legal education in order to improve his/her legal knowledge and become the best attorney for his/her clients as well as receive respect of his/her fellow practitioners.
Ira Kurzban is correct when he wrote that “specialized CLE is crucial for any effective representation of immigrants in the US.” The special CLEs for an immigration attorney CLE practitioner will be crucial for his/her practice as well as to his/her clients.
Engage with Peers and Experts for Enhanced Learning
PRACTITIONER QUESTIONS: Are you stuck for ideas for further CLE for the immigration law requirement? A listing of recent forums, webinars, and other immigration-related events could be helpful to you. Some of the better events are put on by AILA, often including very experienced immigration practitioners as well as leading experts in the field of immigration law. Recently, for example, the 2026 CLINIC Convening will take place from May 27-29, 2026. Such events are a fantastic place to network as well as share best practices on dealing with specific cases, as well as updates on current immigration law and policy.
We previously mentioned on this site the fact that attending your local bar association meetings, as well as legal conferences, can help you inform your other colleagues as well as the other attorneys at your firm of the latest CLE programs, as well as practice tips for specific areas of practice, for example, of refugee status claims and how the different groups of practitioners, who are interested in the same area of the regulation of migration, can post information as well as ask questions on these online groups in order to stoke up discussions, share information, and find answers to questions on the very latest developments for practice.
Collaborating with other people studying the same material as you is a very effective way to learn. You not only learn more in this situation than you would on your own but also establish a network of people who can support you with tough cases and give you ideas on how to approach a problem. Sharing the different views of other practitioners in the legal profession of immigration can also help to give you alternative solutions to the problems that your clients present. With the various resources available through AILA conferences, you will have access to the latest trends and developments in immigration law to better serve your clients. AILA conferences also offer 90+ immigration law CLE-eligible sessions.
Being informed and connected to others in the immigration law practice is more than important; it is crucial to effectively defending your clients’ rights.
Apply Knowledge Gained from CLE in Real-World Scenarios
There is a perception among practicing lawyers that they do not have the time to take the information they received at a CLE program and apply it in the case at hand to enhance their practice of law and better serve their clients. The presentation will relate recent changes in asylum law to ongoing cases, client consultations, etc. to enable practicing lawyers to apply recently acquired information in as many different contexts as possible.
The recent legislative developments affecting the work permits for asylum applicants (who are protected applicants) could cause severe financial hardship for many such applicants. Their work permits could remain in the 180 day waiting period for approval of work permits under the current law, or be extended to 365 days, under the newly proposed legislation. As soon as a practitioner gets information on the pending asylum legislation, they can inform their clients of potential delay in the approval of their work permits, and offer guidance on how to make ends meet until they get their work authorization. Work authorization could take several months, and applicants could be struggling to make ends meet even before the newly extended waiting period would take place. Practitioners could advise their clients of potential alternatives for earning a living during this period. The legislation regarding asylum applicants’ work permits is evolving rapidly. Soon, the law may allow work permits of protected applicants to be approved in 180 days, under current law, or even in 365 days under newly proposed legislation. Both extended waiting periods would create severe financial hardship for many asylum applicants. The applicants could struggle to make ends meet until their work authorization is approved.
The program will also allow participants to explore recent changes in asylum law to apply to their current cases. How are practitioners dealing with recent changes in asylum law? How can they be applied in practice to challenge the current challenges with the metering policy and assist asylum seekers and their lawyers with the new laws to address their situations? This program will help practitioners apply recent changes in asylum law to current case situations and be of great value to those practicing immigration law by taking the information learned at a CLE program and relating it to ongoing cases and to client situations and thereby help improve the practitioner’s work in the field and to better serve their clients.
Conclusion
Do you practice immigration law? Are you an attorney of persons seeking to immigrate to the United States? While many attorneys report that practicing immigration law can be quite challenging, yet by going through maximum amount of your Continuing Legal Education (CLE) you can be effective in practicing the field of immigration law as an attorney of persons seeking to immigrate to the United States.
Attorneys can find out how understanding CLE requirements and choosing ways to maximize CLE can empower practitioners of immigration clients. Joining a specialized CLE program will keep practitioners abreast of all changes effecting immigrants, their families, and refugees. Also, they can get expert assistance with tricky cases. By attending courses designed for similar practice, attorneys can get answers to all of their questions as well as valuable insights into numerous cases, shared by colleagues from all over the country.
Your ongoing education can change your life and that of your clients.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the Continuing Legal Education (CLE) requirements for attorneys in North Carolina?
The CLE requirements for attorneys in North Carolina vary for even and odd year admittees, and attorneys must comply with their state’s bar association requirements within a specified timeframe.
Why should attorneys focus on immigration law CLE programs?
Immigration law CLE programs are beneficial because they help attorneys stay updated on the latest changes in immigration law, including recent updates to border policy, enabling them to better assist clients with related legal issues.
How do immigration law CLE programs help attorneys in their practice?
By attending immigration law CLE programs, attorneys gain knowledge about recent developments in border policy and learn how to apply this information to their cases, which enhances their ability to assist clients effectively.
What types of issues can attorneys learn about through immigration law CLE programs?
Attorneys can learn about various issues affecting individuals in immigration law, which helps them assist clients in asserting their rights and navigating legal challenges related to immigration.
List of Sources
- Understand Immigration Law CLE Requirements and Opportunities
- North Carolina CLE Requirements - CLE Blog (https://blog.attorneycredits.com/north-carolina-cle-requirements-new-rules-for-2025-and-2026-north-carolina-attorneys)
- NC expands ICE cooperation under SCOTUS rulings, new state immigration law (https://wral.com/news/nccapitol/north-carolina-ice-cooperation-scotus-new-law-june-2026)
- North Carolina CLE Requirements for Attorneys | BARBRI - Barbri - Barbri Portal (https://barbri.com/professional-development/cle/requirements/north-carolina)
- North Carolina Senate approves bills expanding immigration enforcement (https://courthousenews.com/north-carolina-senate-approves-bills-expanding-immigration-enforcement)
- Immigration Law Section | North Carolina Advocates for Justice (https://ncaj.com/membership/section-divisions-caucuses/immigration-law)
- Mecklenburg Bar Association and 26th JD Bar (https://meckbar.org/?pg=cle-faqs)
- Select Relevant CLE Courses Tailored to Your Practice
- CLE Center (https://aila.org/cle-center)
- Immigration Law CLE Courses for Attorneys & Firms | BARBRI - Barbri - Barbri Portal (https://barbri.com/professional-development/cle/immigration)
- Immigration Law in Flux: Key Updates from Courts and Agencies, Enforcement Trends, and the Road Ahead (Presented by The Federal Bar Association Professional Development Committee and Labor & Employment Section) – Federal Bar Association (https://federalbarcle.org/product/immigration-law-in-flux-key-updates-from-courts-and-agencies-enforcement-trends-and-the-road-ahead-presented-by-the-federal-bar-association-professional-development-committee-and-labor-emplo)
- CLINIC Convening 2026 | Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc. (CLINIC) (https://cliniclegal.org/training/convening)
- Events, Webinars & CLE (https://americanbar.org/groups/public_interest/immigration/events-and-cle)
- Engage with Peers and Experts for Enhanced Learning
- 2026 AILA Annual Conference and Webcast on Immigration Law (https://aila.org/ac26)
- Conferences (https://aila.org/conferences)
- CLINIC Convening 2026 | Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc. (CLINIC) (https://cliniclegal.org/training/convening)
- AILA - Calendar of Events (https://aila.org/calendar)
- Apply Knowledge Gained from CLE in Real-World Scenarios
- Immigration Law in Flux: Key Updates from Courts and Agencies, Enforcement Trends, and the Road Ahead (Presented by The Federal Bar Association Professional Development Committee and Labor & Employment Section) (https://mylawcle.com/products/immigration-law-in-flux-key-updates-from-courts-and-agencies-enforcement-trends-and-the-road-ahead-presented-by-the-federal-bar-association-professional-development-committee-and-labor-emplo)
- Justices to hear argument on the rights of asylum seekers at the U.S.-Mexico border (https://scotusblog.com/2026/03/justices-to-consider-the-rights-of-asylum-seekers-at-the-u-s-mexico-border)
- New Proposed DHS Rule Effectively Ends Work Authorization for Asylum Applicants (https://tracreports.org/reports/772)
- Welcome.US (https://welcome.us/policy-updates/recent-policy-news)
- Asylum Freeze Update April 2026: What Changed and What It Means for Your Case (https://lawofficeimmigration.com/blog/asylum-freeze-update-april-2026.html)
