Bridging Dreams: How One Attorney's Immigration Journey Shapes Silicon Valley's Future
Mahaprasad & Atal
20 Feb
At LegalBridge, we believe in sharing authentic stories of legal professionals who shape the landscape of immigration law. Today, we sat down with Ekaterina Powell, a solo practitioner at Powell Immigration Law PC, whose personal immigration journey has evolved into a mission to help others achieve their American dreams.
With 14 years of experience focusing on employment-based immigration, particularly EB1 and EB2 National Interest Waivers, Ekaterina brings a unique perspective that bridges cultural understanding with technical expertise. Her story is not just about practicing law—it's about transforming lives through immigration.
A Journey Across Continents
Here's the thing about immigration law that most people don't realize: it's not just about paperwork and visas. It's about dreams, families, and the future of innovation. And nobody understands this better than someone who has lived it themselves.
Ekaterina's path to immigration law began with her own immigration story. Originally from Russia, where she completed her law degree in a comprehensive five-year program, she first came to the United States on a J1 visa for a summer cultural exchange program. "It was beautiful," she recalls. "It gave me the chance to practice English, to be here with my friends, and we explored the United States."
That initial exposure to America led to a second summer visit, during which she met her future husband. What started as a cultural exchange evolved into a personal journey through the family-based immigration system, giving her firsthand experience with the process she would later guide others through.
Building a Career in American Law
After immigrating, Ekaterina faced the challenge of transitioning her legal career to the U.S. system. She completed a Master's program in Comparative Law in San Diego, California, specifically designed for foreign lawyers, which qualified her to take the bar exam. This educational journey equipped her with a unique understanding of both Russian and American legal systems.
"In Russia, it's all statutory based," she explains, highlighting the contrast with the U.S. system. "In U.S. immigration law, we have statutes that govern policies, but we also rely on regulations, precedent decisions, evolving trends, and even unwritten agency policies. These factors shape how laws are interpreted and applied, making it crucial to continuously monitor legal trends and policy shifts."
Finding Her Niche
While initially considering various practice areas including family and contract law, Ekaterina found her calling in employment-based immigration. "I love working with scientists, IT professionals, engineers. That's my field," she shares with evident enthusiasm. Her practice focuses particularly on helping highly skilled professionals navigate complex immigration pathways.
This specialization wasn't just a career choice—it became a passion. "I love making their dreams come true," she says, describing the satisfaction of seeing former clients succeed in their American ventures. "When they have a startup and they want to expand it in the US, and then years later I see them publicly succeed—that's what makes my job rewarding."
Embracing Technology and Innovation
As a solo practitioner, Ekaterina has wholeheartedly embraced technological innovation as a means to significantly enhance the efficiency of her legal practice. By strategically leveraging a diverse array of tools and platforms, she has successfully streamlined her case management processes while still preserving the personalized attention and communication that her clients deeply value. This approach has allowed her to redirect her focus from the sheer quantity of cases to the quality of service she provides to each individual client. Her reasoning "I can focus on the quality of work I provide to my clients as opposed to the quantity," she explains. "I think this is one aspect that all my clients are very appreciative of because I get back to them very quickly."
Ekaterina's clients have expressed their appreciation for her responsiveness and the personalized attention they receive. By leveraging technology to automate routine tasks and optimize her workflow, she is able to dedicate more time and energy to providing high-quality legal services and maintaining strong relationships with her clients. This commitment to both technological innovation and personalized service has allowed Ekaterina to build a successful and sustainable solo practice while exceeding her clients' expectations.
Navigating Changing Times
The immigration landscape is constantly evolving, and Ekaterina emphasizes the importance of adaptability. "What worked, the strategies that worked years ago would not work right now," she notes. This reality requires immigration attorneys to continuously update their approaches and find new solutions for their clients.
She remains hopeful about the future of highly skilled immigration, while acknowledging the challenges. "The US needs to remain competitive to bring new talent into the United States and to help them remain in the United States. Otherwise, they will just look for other countries that have better immigration pathways for them to work and stay."
That one Case!
One of Ekaterina's most memorable cases involved a client who came to her with an EB1 case that had been poorly prepared by another attorney. With only 30 days left to respond to a Request for Evidence (RFE), she worked intensively to document the client's significant achievements. The case was approved in just five days, completely changing the trajectory of the client's life and family's future.
In a world where immigration is often reduced to statistics and political talking points, Ekaterina's approach reminds us of what's really at stake. Every visa application represents someone's dream. Every RFE response could mean the difference between a family staying together or being torn apart. Every approval means another brilliant mind can contribute to America's future.
Looking Ahead
As immigration law continues to evolve, Ekaterina remains committed to helping highly skilled professionals contribute to America's future. "We need to be proactive and adapt our strategies," she emphasizes, "and see how we can help our clients as attorneys and what people can do by themselves to manage and to evolve."
For aspiring immigration attorneys, particularly those with international backgrounds, Ekaterina's journey offers inspiration and practical insights. Her success demonstrates how personal experience with immigration can transform into a meaningful career helping others navigate similar paths.
This article is part of LegalBridge's ongoing series featuring immigration law practitioners who bring unique perspectives to the field. Follow us for more insights from legal professionals shaping the future of immigration law.
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