Shannon M. Underwood graduated from the University of Colorado School of Law at Boulder in 2001. She practices exclusively in the area of immigration law and has worked for both private firms and non-profit organizations throughout her career. Shannon is admitted to the Washington and Colorado Bar Associations, the U.S Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, and the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington. Shannon’s immigration law career began in law school when she interned for non-profit immigration organizations including the Florence Immigrant and Refugee Rights Project (FIRRP) in Arizona and the Rocky Mountain Immigrant Advocacy Network in Colorado. After she graduated from law school, Shannon worked as an Associate Attorney for a business immigration law firm in Denver, Colorado. In 2002, Shannon relocated to the Pacific Northwest where she has worked for various private immigration law firms as an Associate Attorney. Shannon’s experience includes representation of clients in deportation proceedings, family and business non-immigrant and immigrant visa processing, protection under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), religious visas, naturalization, asylum, TPS, NACARA, and appellate work. Shannon is an active member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) and has served on numerous local and national committees for the organization including the Washington State Chapter’s Executive Committee from 2004 to 2007. Shannon also served as an International Legal Consultant for the International Organization for Migration in Cairo, Egypt.
Awards
- Ally for Justice Award, CAIR, WA, May 2017
- Top Women Attorney in Washington, Super Lawyers, 2012-2016
- Rising Star, Super Lawyers, 2012-2016
- Pro Bono Work Having Greatest Impact, AILA-WA, 2010
- Excellent Volunteer Legal Advocacy, ELAP, 2008
Community Activities
- American Immigration Lawyers Association, Washington Chapter. Member 2002-Present
- American Immigration Lawyers Association, Washington Chapter. Executive Committee, 2004-2007
- Kids In Need of Defense, Volunteer Attorney
- CAIR-WA, Volunteer Attorney
- Northwest Immigrant & Refugee Rights Project, Volunteer Attorney
- AILA Naturalization Day, Volunteer Attorney
- King County Bar Association Immigration Clinic, Volunteer Attorney
- Eastside Legal Assistance Program Immigration Clinic, Volunteer Attorney
- Washington Young Lawyers Division Immigration Clinic, Volunteer Attorney
- Seattle University School of Law Access to Justice Institute, Volunteer Attorney
- Korean Women’s Association Naturalization Clinic, Volunteer Attorney
Presentations
- Immigration Matters in Marriage, Separation, and Divorce, May 11, 2017, Eastside Legal Assistance Program, Speaker
- Challenges in Immigration Court, December 5, 2016, AILA-WA Monthly Meeting, Co-Speaker
- Shannon Underwood on The Coming End of DACA, November 16, 2016, Beyond the Surface Podcast with Alonso Chehade, https://www.alonsochehade.com/blog/end-of-daca-with-shannon-underwood
- Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Initial and Renewal Applications, 2016, DACA Training for Microsoft Attorneys, Co-Speaker
- Paralegal Training and Tips for Removal Proceedings, November 2, 2015, AILA-WA Monthly Meeting, Co-Speaker
- Bond Matters, 2015 AILA NW Conference, Co-Speaker
- Immigration Law: Ethics Issues, February 8, 2013, Washington State Bar Association Spotlight Program, Co-Speaker
- Applying for Lawful Permanent Residency, 2012, Eastside Legal Assistance Program, Co-Speaker
- Removal Defense and Motions Practice, 2012, AILA NW Immigration Law Conference, Co-Speaker
- How Marriage, Separation, and Divorce Can Affect our Clients: Priority Dates, Adjustment of Status, and Naturalization, 2009, AILA Washington CLE, Co-Speaker
- Adjustment of Status: A 360 Degree View: Adjustment in Removal Proceedings, November 1, 2007, ILW.com Teleconference, Co-Speaker
- Family Issues in Employment-Based Nonimmigrant Visas, 2007 AILA National Conference, Co-Speaker
- Employment-Based Immigrant Visas for Newer Practitioners: A Broad Overview of Assessing, Preparing, and Filing an EB Case, February 22, 2007, AILA Teleconference, Co-Speaker
- Adjustment of Status vs. Consular Processing: Should I Stay or Should I Go?, 2006 AILA National Conference, Co-Speaker
- How to Become a U.S. Citizen, Eastside Empowerment Group/Bellevue Community College, 2005-2007, Co-Speaker
Publications
- Should I Stay Or Should I Go?, 2006-2007 AILA Immigration and Nationality Law Handbook (co-author)
- Touring an Immigration Related Facility, 2006 AILA Dispatch
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