owner

Yuliya Pashkova

As a kid growing up in Soviet Russia, I devoured Perry Mason stories, dreaming of one day being an attorney. Even at that early age, I believed in justice, rule of law and sticking up for people who could not protect themselves. I did not know what kind of law I wanted to practice, I just knew I wanted to help people with their problems (while wearing a fancy suit).

Fast forward a decade or so, and I found myself in law school as I’d always wanted. It was there while clerking at an immigration law firm in Chicago, that I discovered my passion. I loved the complexity of immigration law and the fastidiousness that was required to file a successful case.

After graduating law school in the top 5% of my class and passing the bar in Illinois, I continued working with immigrants in Chicago, concentrating primarily on employment visas, asylum, and deportation defense. After moving to San Diego I spent a few years in criminal appellate work and gained experience navigating the federal court system, investigating cases, and writing numerous appeals and habeas corpus petitions.

Throughout this detour into criminal law, I never abandoned my passion for immigration. Practicing immigration law makes me feel that I am constantly keeping my finger on the pulse of the country. That feeling, in addition to very real and often profound life stories of my clients, keeps me involved, passionate, and excited about my practice. Being an immigrant myself, I know firsthand what my clients go through, so I make sure their path is as smooth as possible.

While my immigration practice is broad, I tend to focus on family immigration, investor visas, visas for entertainers, asylum, and appellate work. My experience in both criminal and immigration law gives me a unique advantage when working with foreigners who have criminal convictions.

Every case is equally important to me: from a simple employment authorization application to a complex appeal in the federal court. I love a challenge. I will not stop until I find a solution. Seeing a happy client is my highest reward. When in doubt, I think “What Would Perry Mason Do?”

Outside of work, I read, practice yoga, cook, and enjoy music events. Life is a treasure to enjoy and I try to enjoy every minute. My purpose is to change the world for the better, and I change it one client at a time.