Derek Strain is a Principal in the law firm of Minsky, McCormick & Hallagan, P.C. since 2007. Mr. Strain has practiced exclusively in the area of United States immigration and nationality law since 1997.  He has represented clients in all areas of immigration and nationality law including naturalization, family-based immigrant petitions, and employment-based immigration.  His practice includes H-1B, L, O, E, and TN nonimmigrant visas, PERM labor certification, and deportation/removal defense. 

Mr. Strain has been an active member of the American Immigration Lawyers’ Association (AILA) since 1997 and is a current member of the Chicago Chapter Executive Board.  In addition he is a member of the Federal Bar Association. Furthermore he has been selected as an Illinois Super Lawyer and he was also selected by his peers for inclusion in the 2012 Best Lawyers In America in the practice area of Immigration Law.  Mr. Strain has been with the firm of Minsky, McCormick & Hallagan, P.C., since 2000 and has been a principal in the firm since 2007.  Mr. Strain is a former Peace Corps Volunteer (Guatemala) and is fluent in Spanish.

Professional Accomplishments:

Treasurer, Chicago Chapter Executive Board, American Immigration Lawyers Association, 2010-2011.

Secretary, Chicago Chapter Executive Board, American Immigration Lawyers Association, 2009-2010Clinic Chair, Chicago Volunteer Legal Services (CVLS), American Immigration Lawyers Association, Immigration Clinic, 2006-2009.

Co-Chair, New Americans Initiative, American Immigration Lawyers Association, 2008-2009. 

National Pro Bono Chair, Chicago Chapter Liaison, American Immigration Lawyers Association, 2008-2009.

Committee Member, IDES Liaison & Department of Labor Issues Committee, Chicago Chapter Liaison, American Immigration Lawyers Association,2006-2007.

Clinic Chair, Chicago Volunteer Legal Services (CVLS), Chicago Chapter, American Immigration Lawyers Association, Immigration Clinic, 2004-2005.

Committee Member, EOIR Committee, American Immigration Lawyers Association, 2004-2005.

Co-Chair, Asylum Committee, American Immigration Lawyers Association, 2003-2004.

Panelist, “Adoption and Assisted Reproduction: A Child's Claim to Citizenship", 2010 National Annual Conference on Immigration Law, American Immigration Lawyers Association, July 3, 2010 , Washington D.C.

Panelist, “Labor Condition Application Process”, Fall Employment Immigration Conference, American Immigration Lawyers Association, October 21, 2009, Chicago, Illinois.

Panelist, “I-140s and Employer Ability to Pay Issues”, Chicago Smorgasbord of Business Immigration Basics, American Immigration Lawyers Association, October 21, 2008, Chicago, Illinois.

Panelist, AILA Chicago Ethics Conference, Ethics and Technology, 2009.

Panelist, “Maintaining H-1B Employees During a Recession”, March 21, 2009, North American Association of Indian IT Professionals (NAAIIP) Employer’s Conference, Des Plaines, Illinois.

Panelist, “Crossing International Borders:  ART and the use of donors and gestational carriers from other countries,” American Academy of Adoption Attorneys Annual Conference, October 17, 2008, Chicago, Illinois.

Panelist, “PERM Labor Certification”, Chicago Bar Association, May 16, 2008, Chicago, Illinois.

Panelist, “Workplace Enforcement and Immigration”, Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education, November 14, 2007, Chicago, Illinois.

Panelist, “Immigration Issues for Employers”, Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education, June 1, 2007, Chicago, Illinois.

Panelist, “Immigration and Workers’ Compensation Claims”, Worker’s Compensation Claims Association, June 18, 2007, Wooddale, Illinois.

Panelist, “International Adoption, Immigration and Citizenship”, Midwest Adoption Conference, November 4, 2007, Palatine, Illinois.

Recipient, Super Lawyers 2009-2010, Chicago, Illinois.

Recipient, Distinguished Service Award 2006, Chicago Volunteer Legal Services.

Recipient, Chicago Human Rights Award 1996, Casa Guatemala, Chicago, Illinois.

Recipient, Super Lawyer, 2008-2009, Chicago, Illinois.