Mentorship for Immigration Lawyers

Hello and welcome to my page. I’m Sharon. I am a law firm owner, lawyer, mentor, wife, and mother. I have owned my practice for nearly 11 years. When I opened my practice, I had few connections in Virginia, both with the immigration bar and with clients. Then Trump became president. My main recollection of that time? It was lonely and nerve-wracking because I didn’t have a community of attorneys to lean on. I joined some online Facebook groups (where you likely found me) and, while that was helpful in some circumstances, there were times when I needed a phone call with someone more experienced. I would have benefitted from an ongoing mentor-mentee relationship with another attorney as I was growing my practice.

Now, more than 10 years on, I have created a community, and my practice has grown. I am proud of my business, the time that I have put into building a resource library and into learning immigration law, and of the lawyer and business owner that I have become. I am a stronger attorney for having worked through the first Trump presidency. I am grateful for my community, and I want to create new communities of immigration lawyers. I love mentoring others and enjoy getting to know other attorneys, offering guidance and assistance, and supporting this field that I love so deeply.

My Why

I was still a new lawyer when the 2016 election happened. It was then, more than ever, that I needed a community and mentorship. I am an introvert working in a small town with very few other immigration attorneys. I worked hard to forge relationships with other women law firm owners outside of Williamsburg, but it was difficult and exhausting. I am forever grateful for my colleagues who let me into their circles, offering advice and moments of commiseration. They ended up being a lifeline for me. Looking back to the years between 2016 and 2020, I can see that I sharpened my lawyering tools during a difficult time in immigration law, all while trying to keep my law firm open and running during the pandemic. We survived and are stronger for it!

What I Offer

-Mentorship and advice about complicated family-based cases, waivers, VAWA, T visas, or U visas, and more.

-Ghost-writing for law cases.

-One-on-one or small group mentoring with other like-minded immigration attorneys.

Note: I do not practice removal or business immigration. Depending on the matter, I may be able to refer you to one of my colleagues. I do not advise on marketing.

Packages

  • 60 minutes: $300
    30 minutes: $175
    15 minutes: $100

  • You may sign up for 4 months of calls with me. This includes a one-hour call per month with me and 2 email questions with 2 responses from me. $550 per month for 4 months. If you need a quick additional call, I charge a discounted rate of $75 per 15 minutes.

  • You may sign up for 4 months of calls with me and be added to a small group of other mentees.  This includes an individual one-hour call per month with me and 2 email questions with 2 responses from me, as well as a one-hour group session. $700 per month for 4 months. When the session is over, you will have formed a small community with whom you can continue to troubleshoot.

Kendall R. von Michalofski

“Sharon is a wonderful mentor. I am extremely grateful for her guidance. I started my own immigration practice in April 2023. I had not previously practiced immigration law as a job or run my own law firm, so I knew that I needed a mentor. I was lucky enough to connect with Sharon through mutual acquaintances. Sharon has helped walk me through countless immigration puzzles as I have become more comfortable with this area of law. I especially appreciate that I can ask her basic questions without feeling judged. I also feel that her approach to business ownership and immigration law is very practical. I truly believe that Sharon is an ideal mentor, especially for new immigration lawyers, and I highly recommend her.”

Sherri Sturgeon

"I have been incredibly fortunate to be mentored by Sharon Powell. She has been an exceptional sounding board, always open to my ideas and questions, no matter how simple or complex, without a hint of judgment. Sharon’s dedication to advocating for the dignity of migrants is reflected in the compassionate and insightful guidance she offers new immigration attorneys. When others doubted me, she was the voice of encouragement, assuring me, 'Yes, you can.' Anyone lucky enough to learn from her will grow both in their immigration law skills and in client representation, finding a mentor who supports without judgment. I cannot recommend Sharon highly enough.”