Turning Passion into Purpose

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Lili Arshad, an immigration lawyer from Avocet Law, who is passionate about helping clients on their immigration journeys. The following has been edited for length and clarity.

From a young age, I knew I wanted to be a lawyer. A couple of weeks ago, I found a letter I’d written to myself in middle school, basically saying that I wanted to be a lawyer and that I had this whole plan laid out for myself.  My family would always joke, 'You’re good at arguing, so you should be a lawyer,' but for me, it was about more than just arguing. I loved the idea of helping others and figuring out tough problems. Still, while I knew I wanted to pursue law, I had no idea what kind of lawyer I wanted to be. 

In my first year of law school, I was assigned to an immigration law elective that I hadn't chosen, and at first, I was disappointed. I didn’t know anything about it and had hoped to take a different class. But as the semester went on, I fell in love with immigration law, learning about various aspects beyond just business or entertainment. That newfound passion deepened when I landed an internship at an entertainment immigration firm. Suddenly, I knew I was set on entertainment immigration.

Immigration has always been a part of my life. 

My entire family is made up of immigrants—my mother had status through asylum, and my father had a student visa. My aunt and uncle also came to the U.S. on visas and eventually received green cards. Because of this, immigration law hits close to home for me.

What I love about immigration law is that each case feels like a new puzzle to solve. Every client has a unique story, and it’s about putting together all the pieces to build a strong, compelling narrative. One case that stands out to me involved applying for an O-1 visa for a painter. It was a challenging case, as there was hardly any information available about him online—just a few articles and some materials in another language. It required a lot of effort to build a strong narrative, and it turned out to be one of the longest times I’ve spent working on an O-1. But, it was a great learning experience, and in the end, my hard work paid off as his visa was approved!

What motivates me most is the joy my clients experience when they get approved. 

Seeing those messages saying, “Thank you so much,” or “You saved me,” really drives my passion. These affirmations remind me of the impact my work has on real lives. Everyone has their stories and dreams, and I love helping them find the opportunity to work here. I'm glad that I get to play a role in that. Like I said, it's like putting together a puzzle, and I love puzzles!

During challenging cases, I constantly think about my clients, how much they’ve invested, and what’s at stake for them. I genuinely love helping people, and that drives me to guide them through the complex immigration process.

I want to make a difference.

I measure my success not only by my clients’ visa approvals but also by my ability to empathize with them. A good immigration lawyer is one who can step into their client’s shoes and understand their struggles. In immigration law, compassion is key—being understanding and supportive while also being a zealous advocate, stopping at nothing and pushing as far as possible to help them secure their visas. You want to push for your client and show the immigration officer why they deserve a visa or green card, presenting a compelling story.

Getting those approval emails is the best sign that I’m making a difference, along with positive reinforcement from colleagues. Before I start a case, I’m always looking at similar cases we’ve handled to compare and see if arguments we made previously might be useful and figuring out what will work best for each specific client.

As I move forward in immigration law, I’m focused on making a real impact in the lives of my clients. It’s not only about navigating the complexities of the law but about being part of their stories. This work goes beyond legal skills; it’s about truly wanting to help people find their way and build a better future.