Top Lawyers: Herman Dhade Of Detroit Immigration On The 5 Things You Need To Become A Top Lawyer In Your Specific Field of Law
An Interview with Eric L. Pines
Being able to understand one’s circumstances and cultural background.
The legal field is known to be extremely competitive. Lawyers are often smart, ambitious, and highly educated. That being said, what does it take to stand out and become a “Top Lawyer” in your specific field of law? In this interview series called “5 Things You Need To Become A Top Lawyer In Your Specific Field of Law”, we are talking to top lawyers who share what it takes to excel and stand out in your industry.
Attorney Herman Singh Dhade is the founder of Detroit Immigration and has been practicing law for over 25 years. With a passion for helping his community in matters of immigration law, Mr. Dhade proudly represents individuals who need visas, green cards, family immigration, Canada immigration, asylum, and more. He is a fully licensed attorney in both the United States and Canada while holding dual citizenship in both countries. As an experienced, high-profile attorney, Mr. Dhade handles immigration legal cases with tact and dedication.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series. Before we dig in, Our readers would love to get to know you a bit more. What is the “backstory” that brought you to this particular career path in law? Did you want to be an attorney when you “grew up”?
Even since I initially started exploring possible career paths, I knew I wanted to help people. I have always aimed to dedicate my work to serving others. Immigration is not just my profession but also my passion. I am a child of first-generation immigrants and watching them navigate through the social, legal, and economic process of adjusting to a new culture created even greater motivation to pursue immigration law. One can say that I learned from my experience and the experiences of my relatives which I find to be a unique and important skill in practicing immigration law. Being able to see and feel the emotions involved in the immigration process surely led me to my current profession.
Can you tell us a bit about the nature of your practice and what you focus on?
Detroit Immigration is an immigration law firm practicing 100% immigration law for the U.S. and Canada.
You are a successful attorney. Which three character traits do you think were most instrumental to your success? What unique qualities do you have that others may not? Can you please share a story or example for each?
- Dedication. To say that I am 100% dedicated to my clients is an understatement. I will go above and beyond the call of duty for my clients and their immigration matters. From attending out-of-state interviews to arguing cases at the border, to staying the course throughout decade-long legal battles.
Our clients need someone that will fight for them and someone who won’t give up.
More often than not, I am their last hope for the life they dreamed of or for any chance of keeping their family together and I will do everything I can to help them achieve that.
I can think of one case, in particular, where we recently received an overwhelmingly positive outcome. It is a client that I have been representing for their immigration matters for over 10 years.
He was placed in removal proceedings and was in jeopardy of being separated from his wife and child with special needs. You can imagine the sense of joy and relief everyone felt when his case was dismissed without prejudice, and he was no longer facing removal from the U.S. It brings me great joy to know that his life will be forever changed.
2. Compassion. You cannot do this work without having compassion and empathy for others. One of my strongest traits is awareness of others’ experiences. I take a client-centric approach and always consider what is best for the client.
As attorneys, we are well aware there may be strategies that are easier for the attorney to file or to argue, but I always want what is in the best interest of the client and client experience.
For example, there was a case about a year ago, a client hired us for a straightforward case to assist with his application for naturalization and renewal of his green card.
It turns out that the client’s health took an unexpected turn for the worse and he was not expected to survive for his naturalization ceremony. The client’s dying wish was to be naturalized as a US citizen before their life came to an end. I tried everything I could and exhausted every effort to give the client his wish for US citizenship. I requested to expedite his case, I contacted immigration officials, and eventually, I was able to make special arrangements for the client to be naturalized bedside with family present. Sadly, the client passed away before he was able to become a naturalized U.S. citizen. However, on a positive note, I was able to quickly obtain alternative documentation so that his dying wish was fulfilled. In your career, you experience cases that you know you will never forget. This case is one that will forever stick with me.
3. Creativity. I feel I have the ability to think outside of the box and view problems with a creative lens. This offers me the opportunity to propose solutions for difficult cases that are more creative and less “cookie-cutter”. Clients often end up at our firm because they need us to “fix” their case or we are their last hope.
Over the course of my career, my ability to offer creative legal strategies and solutions has led to many favorable outcomes for clients. For example, I was meeting with a client who was here on a visitor visa. He came to me for assistance with extending his stay in the U.S. I realized by meeting with him that he qualified for an athlete visa. I was able to get him permanent residence based on his exceptional athletic abilities whereas a conventional law firm may have simply applied for a visitor visa extension and may not have thought of this option.
Additionally, in my free time, I have sought out specialized training in marketing, artificial intelligence, and have an interest in producing movies. This creative edge has only benefited the law firm as it adds to its uniqueness.
Do you think you have had luck in your success? Can you explain what you mean?
I cannot attribute my success to luck. I believe I have achieved this success with hard work and dedication. Dedication to my craft and practice, but most importantly my clients.
Do you think where you went to school has any bearing on your success? How important is it for a lawyer to go to a to-tier school?
It absolutely has no bearing. It is how you represent your client and your understanding of the law. It is best to pick the school that is right for you with programs and curriculum that interest you.
This is not easy work. What is your primary motivation and drive behind the work that you do?
I am motivated to push beyond my limits, to grow, and to challenge myself in new ways.
What are some of the most interesting or exciting projects you are working on now?
We have all heard the news about the war in Ukraine. What we haven’t heard much of is the human experience associated with these events. We don’t often consider what it is like for real people living their lives in a war-torn country. Perhaps it is too difficult to process the experienced trauma, sadness, and tragedy. We were recently contacted by a father who was a U.S. citizen and expecting twins. This wasn’t an ordinary straightforward case. You could hear and sense his fear and panic in his initial call as he described how the expectant mother was in Ukraine and nearing the end of a high-risk pregnancy. We were hired to assist with uniting the family.
Without access to appropriate medical care and facilities, there was real fear and danger for the vitality of the unborn babies. There was also a real concern that the babies would be born on the airplane. The mother demonstrated incredible bravery and courage throughout the process as she fled war-torn Ukraine during her high-risk pregnancy of multiples. We received a favorable decision on the case, and as soon as the mom found out, she became so excited that she went into labor! Both babies were born healthy, and the family was united in the U.S.
Where do you go from here? Where do you aim to be in the next chapter of your career?
The goal is to help immigration law and expand immigrant rights. Also to continue to assist with complex cases.
Without sharing anything confidential, can you please share your most successful “war story”? Can you share the funniest?
A few come to mind. Years ago, there was a very scared mother hiding with her child in a church basement, crouched down and crying. She had a tracking device on her ankle, and it had a speaker function. The officer came over the speaker on her device telling her to report to the airport. She continued clutching her child tightly and crying. She found out earlier that very day that the decision from her appeal had come in. She did not have status in the U.S., but her daughter was a U.S. citizen. She was going to be deported and faced a difficult decision, to either 1) take her daughter with her and face certain torture in her country or 2) leave her daughter behind and have her end up in foster care. The decision came in from the appeal… we had won, and she was able to remain in the U.S. with her daughter.
Another case comes to mind where I recently assisted a young man win his asylum case and after escaping unspeakable violent torture and beatings in his country.
Let’s shift to discussing some advice for aspiring lawyers. Do you work remotely? Onsite? Or Hybrid? What do you think will be the future of how law offices operate? What do you prefer? Can you please explain what you mean?
In the current expansion of globalization and virtual development the future of law offices shifts to online settings. Many courts offer virtual meetings and sessions, access to online case searches, and easier more user-friendly access to government filings. The shift also encourages greater use of artificial intelligence, virtual legal strategies, and cases. Being able to access immigration applications online benefits not only legal representatives but also clients who often reside outside of the U.S. Our firm operates onsite. At Detroit Immigration, we believe that in sensitive cases like immigration matters in-person relationships with our clients can benefit the application process. Our staff is available for clients whenever such a need occurs, and our clients know where to find us. Although we operate on-site, thanks to the modernization of immigration services, we utilize hybrid resources.
How has the legal world changed since COVID? How do you think it might change in the near future? Can you explain what you mean?
The COVID-19 pandemic put the whole world on pause, creating unforeseen delays in many fields of our lives, including immigration. Many foreign nationals experienced significant delays in the processing of their applications to reunite with their families. At the same time, the COVID-19 pandemic allowed for a faster digitalization of some aspects of our lives that used to be handled in in-person scenarios. Courts can now hold virtual sessions and allow for online filing, immigration and labor agencies to correspond with legal representatives digitally, etc. The bureaucracy became more lenient, efficient, and accessible. These examples show that the pandemic challenged parts of immigration but also improved other aspects. I believe immigration services will become more and more user-friendly by allowing digital access to information ad opportunities.
Based on your experience, how can attorneys effectively leverage social media to build their practice?
Social media is a very valuable and powerful platform in the modern world. In the past, media sources distributed information through television, newspapers, and the yellow pages. Nowadays, information is available within seconds with just one click of a button. The newer generation utilizes platforms like YouTube, Instagram, TikTok and more to access information. Digitalization of the modern world puts pressure on traditional businesses like law practices, to follow the shift to remain in the market. Our firm consists of staff members who are fluent in the digital world which significantly helps our clients.
Here is the main question of our interview. What are your “5 things you need to become a top lawyer in your specific field of law?” Please share a story or an example for each
1. Compassion.
2. Being able to understand one’s circumstances and cultural background.
3. Passion for globalization and freedom of movement.
4. Patience.
5. Motivation and dedication to fight for one’s rights.
Immigration law can be beautiful, but it can also be very upsetting. A good immigration lawyer must be able to patiently listen to their client’s needs and critically evaluate the current situation. Patience is crucial as immigration applications take time. Immigration law does not only reunite families or allow tourists to travel, but it also witnesses the most heartbreaking cases of deportation, death, and separation of families. This is where passion and dedication come in place. Immigration lawyers also need to focus on the opportunities and chances for the r clients. Moreover, the cultural background also plays a significant role in immigration applications. An immigration attorney must be able to understand and accommodate the client’s background. Immigration law does not only require good learning skills but also high personal standards.
Is there a person in the world, or in the US with whom you would love to have private breakfast or lunch, and why? He or she might see this :)
It would be a great pleasure to meet President Volodymyr Zelenskyy whom I truly admire for his bravery, courage, and dedication to standing for his people. President Zelenskyy is a great leader, a protector of democracy, and an honorable man. Additionally, we both share a passion for comedy.
This was very inspiring. Thank you so much for the time you spent with this. We wish you continued success and good health!
About the Interviewer: Eric L. Pines is a nationally recognized federal employment lawyer, mediator, and attorney business coach. He represents federal employees and acts as in-house counsel for over fifty thousand federal employees through his work as a federal employee labor union representative. A formal federal employee himself, Mr. Pines began his federal employment law career as in-house counsel for AFGE Local 1923 which is in Social Security Administration’s headquarters and is the largest federal union local in the world. He presently serves as AFGE 1923’s Chief Counsel as well as in-house counsel for all FEMA bargaining unit employees and numerous Department of Defense and Veteran Affairs unions.
While he and his firm specialize in representing federal employees from all federal agencies and in reference to virtually all federal employee matters, his firm has placed special attention on representing Veteran Affairs doctors and nurses hired under the authority of Title. He and his firm have a particular passion in representing disabled federal employees with their requests for medical and religious reasonable accommodations when those accommodations are warranted under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (ADA). He also represents them with their requests for Federal Employee Disability Retirement (OPM) when an accommodation would not be possible.
Mr. Pines has also served as a mediator for numerous federal agencies including serving a year as the Library of Congress’ in-house EEO Mediator. He has also served as an expert witness in federal court for federal employee matters. He has also worked as an EEO technical writer drafting hundreds of Final Agency Decisions for the federal sector.
Mr. Pines’ firm is headquartered in Houston, Texas and has offices in Baltimore, Maryland and Atlanta, Georgia. His first passion is his wife and five children. He plays classical and rock guitar and enjoys playing ice hockey, running, and biking. Please visit his websites at www.pinesfederal.com and www.toughinjurylawyers.com. He can also be reached at eric@pinesfederal.com.
