Lindsey E. Sweet

EXPERIENCE

Murphy Law Firm, Multiple Offices
Attorney 09/10 – present

Responsible for representing clients before the United States Immigration Courts and for providing legal counsel to individual clients on their relief before the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR). Performs extensive brief and motion work before the EOIR and the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA). Also responsible for affirmative Family, Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), U Visa Petitions, and Asylum immigration matters before U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

Nationalities Service Center, Philadelphia, PA
Volunteer Immigration Attorney, 02/10 – 06/10

Conducted new client consultations and represented clients before the EOIR. Prepared applications and supporting documentation for a multitude of applications, including: Family-based Petitions, Refugee Adjustments, Consular Processing, U Visa Petitions, Asylum and Withholding of Removal, Temporary Protected Status (TPS), Employment Authorization. Responsible for drafting and filing motions before the EOIR and Appeals and Motions to Reconsider and Reopen before USCIS. Collaborated closely with medical professionals to facilitate and obtain psychological and physical evaluations, affidavits, and witness availability to support applications.

Sodette K-M Plunkett, P.C., Elizabeth, NJ.
Law Clerk, 05/08 – 12/09

Firm practices only immigration law. Performed extensive legal research and drafted briefs and motions to the EOIR and the BIA. Worked closely with individual client in preparing applications and supporting documentation for Adjustment of Status, Removal of Conditions of Permanent Residency, Cancellation of Removal, VAWA Self-Petitions, U Visa, Asylum and Withholding of Removal, Temporary Protected Status, Naturalization, Employment Authorization, Advance Parole/Travel Document, and various types of Inadmissibility Waivers. Performed interpretation for clients at USCIS Asylum Office in Lyndhurst, NJ. Developed extensive experience in translation of documents from Spanish to English.

American Friends Service Committee, Immigrant Rights Program, Newark, NJ.
Legal Extern, 08/07 – 04/08

Performed legal research and prepared applications for Asylum, VAWA, TPS, and U Visa Petitions. Attended EOIR hearings and interpreted for clients at USCIS Asylum Office. Screened and performed “Know Your Rights” presentations to newly arrived immigration detainees at the Elizabeth Detention Center in Elizabeth, NJ. Performed extensive translation of client-prepared documents from Spanish to English.

Friends of Farmworkers, Inc., Philadelphia, PA.
Peggy Browning Fellow, 06/07-08/07.

Provided legal outreach in Spanish to indigent farm workers across Pennsylvania regarding their legal rights as employees. Researched employment law issues involved in new and ongoing litigation. Assisted in filing complaints with PA Bureau of Labor & Industry and settlement negotiations. Interviewed new clients.

Chester County Intermediate Unit: Pennsylvania Migrant Education Program (MEP), Downingtown, PA.
Student Support Specialist, 02/03-08/06
Program provides supplemental education to the children of migrant farm workers in the state of Pennsylvania. Advocated for and guided MEP families through American educational and legal systems, including truancy court. Assisted parents/students access community resources. Designed, implemented and supervised academic and character education programs. Specifically created and administrated a gang prevention soccer team and career exploration program for pre-teen Latino boys which now has 800 members. Administrated and taught parent workshops for over 100 families. Planned and directed the MEP Summer Program for over 300 students and supervised 30 teachers. Awarded 2006 Outstanding Service Award by Chester County Intermediate Unit.

EDUCATION

Rutgers University School of Law—Newark, Newark, NJ, Juris Doctorate, May 2009

Honors: Philip J. Levin Scholarship, Peggy Browning Fund Fellowship
Activities: Vice Chair, Public Interest Law Foundation,
Workers Rights Initiative Co-Chair, Immigration Rights Collective,
Vice President of Collaboration, Employment and Labor Law Society,
Member, American Immigration Lawyers Association

Haverford College, Haverford, PA

Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with Minor in Spanish, May 2003.

Universidad Veracruzana, Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico

Studied Spanish/English interpretation, causes of Mexican migration to the United States, Mexican politics, history, social work, literature and cultural relations. (All coursework in Spanish), 01/02 – 07/02

Binational Migrant Education Program, Guanajuato, Mexico.

Chosen as one of the Pennsylvania delegates to participate in an educator exchange between the USA and Mexico, 03/04

BAR ADMISSIONS

Pennsylvania Supreme Court—November 2, 2009
New Jersey Supreme Court—November 9, 2009

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS AND MEMBERSHIPS

American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA),
Student Member 2007 2009, Attorney Member 2010 – Present

Pennsylvania Bar Association Member 
2009 – present

American Bar Association Member 2009 – Present

MANA de Chester County, A National Latina Organization, Toughkenamon, PA,
Board Member 2003 – 2006, Chair, Public Relations Committee

COSECHA: Cultivating Community, West Grove, PA.
Board Member, 2004 - 2006.

SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS

Subject: Students Guide to Understanding the DREAM Act (Spanish)
Sponsored By: Pennsylvania Migrant Education Program
Location: Oxford, PA
Date: October 26, 2010

Subject: Parents Guide to Understanding the DREAM Act (Spanish)
Sponsored By: Pennsylvania Migrant Education Program
Location: Kennett Square, PA
Date: October 21, 2010

Subject: Students Guide to Understanding the DREAM Act (Spanish)
Sponsored By: Pennsylvania Migrant Education Program
Location: West Grove, PA
Date: October 21, 2010

Subject: Employee Rights of Undocumented Day Laborers under New Jersey State Law (Spanish and English)
Sponsored By: American Friends Service Committee
Location: Newark, NJ
Date: Various, Fall 2008 – Spring 2009