Major N.Y. Immigration Law Firm Investigated by Dept. of Labor

Legal Ethics

Major N.Y. Immigration Law Firm Investigated by Dept. of Labor

Posted Jun 4, 2008, 01:38 pm CST
By Martha Neil

A 250-lawyer New York-based international law firm known for its immigration work is the subject of a preliminary investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor, which says it may have improperly advised clients about labor certification applications.

The applications are used to get "green cards," which authorize the American residency of foreign workers sponsored by employers for jobs that qualified U.S. workers can't be found to fill. According to the department, Fragomen Del Rey Bernsen & Loewy may have violated a rule that prohibits law firms from advising clients about the qualifications of American applicants for these same jobs. Hence, it is auditing all of Fragomen's labor certifications, explains the National Law Journal in an article reprinted in New York Lawyer (reg. req.).

The firm says in a written statement that it is "shocked by the Department of Labor's precipitous and unjustified action" but will cooperate with the investigation "in an effort to allay its concerns and resolve this matter in a way that preserves the important right of our clients to receive our best counsel."

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