Manage episode 474964982 series 3583202
Immigrants seeking visas to start U.S. companies need experienced counsel to navigate the process for themselves, their workers, and their families. Today's guest, Tahmina Watson, is just the attorney who can help them realize their dreams. She is a U.K.-trained attorney and immigrant of Bangladeshi descent who opened a successful immigration firm in Seattle in 2009. But her deep impact on the immigrant community doesn't end with business startups.
In this episode, Tahmina explains how she used pro bono work and a commitment to community-building to create a legal career that assists immigrants in starting U.S. businesses while also building crucial networks for immigrant legal representation amidst chaotic political agendas. She admits that "Tahmina can talk," but her volunteerism, radio show, podcasts, legal writing, and even her nature photography illustrate how grandly this sticky lawyer lives her American Dream.
Chapters
1. Creating Communities and Meeting the Moment: An Immigration Lawyer on the Rule of Law (00:00:00)
2. Helping laid-off foreign talent in Seattle's business environment obtain visas to start their own companies gave Tahmina practical experience with immigration policy. (00:03:11)
3. The impact of Trump's first administration on immigration. (00:04:29)
4. The crucial importance of community and organizational involvement. (00:06:29)
5. Helping create the Airport Lawyer website to offer pro bono lawyer assistance to passengers held by Customs and Border Protection a week after the Muslim travel ban was enacted. (00:09:56)
6. Modern-day startups vs the 1990 start-up concept and how the business visa process works. (00:18:07)
7. Tahmina's journey to law and the U.S. (00:21:36)
8. How building a community base through volunteering became marketing for her solo legal practice. (00:28:54)
9. How a radio show enhanced her network and led to two podcasts. [00:32:18] Birdwatching and personal passions. (00:38:37)
49 episodes