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TARA LEOVNA KENNEDY

***** ********* **., ****** ******, MD 20902 cell 443-***-**** ad3qmt@r.postjobfree.com Experienced & resourceful lawyer with meticulous attention to detail in case review & drafting Strength in writing, research, creative strategy, organization, moving projects forward, & process creation Active Maryland license with no prior suspensions or disciplinary actions Accustomed to working under high pressure while meeting complex deadlines Strong technical aptitude with pre-law work experience with Lexis-Nexis, government info mapping, & graphics creation PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Attorney Impartial Hearing Representative, Robert Half International, NYC Dept. of Education 2022 – 2024

Litigated immense caseload before administrative courts defending NYCDOE’s creation & implementation of special education programs. Tasks: conducted secondary investigations regarding defensibility; referred cases to settlement; drafted & presented motions, affidavits, subpoenas, disclosures, openings, & closing briefs; drafted questions for & conducted direct & cross examinations; litigated in hearings for 70-95% of each workday with preparations and drafting performed during additional hours; tracked a revolving body of cases assigned to me of which 300-500 were open at a given time; adapted to a replaced judicial system as well as simultaneous federal indictments involving my cases; and, tracked different filing, notice, & deadline requirements individual to each judicial hearing officer Immigration Attorney, Kennedy Law Firm, Oklahoma, Texas, Maryland 2002 – 2022

Represented clients before USCIS & Dept. of State drafting & filing petitions, labor certifications, employment petitions, family-based petitions, adjustment applications, consular process applications, & appeals

Conducted legal research, interpreted applicability of case law/statutes, & developed case strategies

Reviewed admissibility issues advising clients regarding visa avenues & potential for waivers

Drafted & managed processes for immigrant & nonimmigrant employment-based filings, including EB-1 extraordinary ability, EB2 & EB3 (PERM), outstanding researcher, national waiver petitions, H1B, H1B1s, L1, & TNs

Counseled on employment options & responsibilities related to visa availability, changes of status, extensions, & portability, including professors, scientists, engineers, IT consultants, nurses, architects, entertainers, artists, & students

Drafted petitions & waivers of inadmissibility including under VAWA & VTVPA to help certain victims of domestic violence, criminal acts resulting in substantial physical or mental abuse, & victims of sex and labor trafficking

USCIS & AAO (Agency Filings & Appeals): Represented filings & appeals before USCIS & Administrative Appeals Office

EOIR & BIA Immigration Deportation Defense Litigation: Represented clients in Immigration Court

& the Board of Immigration Appeals, specializing in applications for withholding of removal, cancellation of removal, adjustment of status, VAWA self, & avoiding consequences of convictions

Divorce, Trusts & Estates, Landlord Tenant, Contracts: Reviewed and drafted divorce filings, separation agreements, wills, trusts, leases, and contracts

Selected Achievements:

Obtained various forms of post-conviction relief in Maryland State Court

Secured release of indefinite detainees in federal court

Successfully sued a detention center to enforce a detainee’s constitutional right to marry

Obtained an annulment (rarely granted in MD) in a marriage fraud case from the Howard County Circuit Court BAR MEMBERSHIP

Maryland State Bar (active license with no prior suspensions or disciplinary action) Admitted 2001 EDUCATION

UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA COLLEGE OF LAW, Norman, OK

JURIS DOCTOR

Editor & Vice President, Oklahoma International Law Society Jagellonian International Trade Study Abroad: Jagellonian Universitet, Kraków, Poland UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA, Norman, OK

BA, RUSSIAN AREA STUDIES, EMPHASIS IN INTERNATIONAL ECONOMICS

BA, FRENCH

Dean’s Honor Roll; Search for Excellence Award, Political Science Two summers intensive Russian language study, University of Washington Work/Study in France, Poland & Kazakhstan

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