Farrah Qazi

I am the founding attorney and owner of Qazi Law Offices. I received my Juris Doctorate from DePaul University Law School and my Bachelor of Arts from Loyola University Chicago.

In law school, I became fascinated and horrified by the prevalence of human trafficking. As an intern and associate at the International Human Rights Institute, I handled cases from hundreds of victims of trafficking who lived in Latin America. As horrible as their experiences were, I realized this was my calling: I could help them regain their voices and I was determined to fight for their liberties.

As an immigration lawyer, I am privileged to represent unlawfully detained clients and victims of domestic abuse who have filed under the Violence Against Women Act. I zealously fight for undocumented people in removal proceedings. I serve as an expert on blasphemy laws and minority persecution in Muslim countries and am often asked to lecture and write on these topics across the country. In 2012, I started a national domestic abuse hotline that caters to immigrant women seeking pro-bono legal help and guidance. The hotline is unique because it offers services in several languages, partners with local support structures, and advises the women according to their individual customs and backgrounds.

I love what I do, and I am honored to be in this role!

DePaul College of Law

J.D. | Law

2001 - 2003

Honors: CALi AWARD Legal Writing Honor(Highest Grade in the Class) CALI Award for Legal Research and Trial Moot Court Trial Recommendation Editor and Writer of Health Care Law Journal

University College of London

J.D. | International Business and Human Rights Law

2001 - 2002

Founding Attorney, CEO

Qazi Law Offices

2007 - Current

• Founder of busy law practice focused on transactional, corporate and business law. • Coordinate residential and commercial real estate closings and transactions for properties exceeding $1,000,000 in value; • Specialize in estate planning and asset protection for business owners and families. • Draft and implement living trusts, wills, powers of attorney and financial documents. • Draft and assess employment agreements, business contracts, and corporate documents for physicians and other professionals and businesses. • Conduct and maintain legal research pertaining to such matters as contract, compliance, general operational concerns and employment. • Formulate plans for incorporation, asset protection and contractual liability. Composed company policies, procedures, handbooks and other related documents. • Assist and negotiate joint ventures, acquisitions and partnerships of various businesses. • Train NGOs and businesses about basic employer relationships, international laws, compliance and vendor agreements. • Provide counsel for several NGOs, including Sonia Shah Organization and Humanity First. • Prepare not-profit paperwork for incorporation, explain tax- exempt status and other responsibilities and draft relevant contracts. • Conduct numerous Know Your Rights Seminars and legal clinics regarding estate planning and immigration. • Started national membership of attorneys who are drafting guardianship papers for families who are in danger of being deported under new immigration laws. • As chair of Lawyers for Good Government, I speak to lawyers across the country, weekly, about updates and provide pro-bono assistance to unlawful residents. • Volunteered and organized attorneys to volunteer at O’Hare airport and visit local schools and churches to help those detained or in deportation proceedings.

Adjunct Professor

Waubonsee Community College

2011 - 2012

unct Faculty Business Legal Ethics January 2011-January 2012 • Design syllabus, draft lesson plans, outlines, and study guides while also preparing examinations. • Facilitate various projects, and plan activities such as formulating individual business plans, mock trials, and skits about employment discrimination. • Foster open and honest discussions about moral issues in the legal profession, contractual issues and legal cases and updates. • Tutor and mentor students during office hours to assess their struggles within the class and their needs. • Supervise honors project for select gifted students.

Attorney

Davis, Hands and Liss

2004 - 2006

esented clients with estates of $300,000 to $10,000,000; determine client’s net worth and estate planning by researching their financial portfolios and any interest in real estate, U.S. bonds, mutual funds, 401Ks, and stocks. • Prepare stock transfer documents, contracts, and tax forms for corporations. • Conduct real estate closings, probate and guardianship hearings. • Advise clients on Generation Skipping Trust (GST) and execute such trusts as Irrevocable Life Insurance Trusts and Qualified Terminable Interest Property (QTIP) trusts. • Draft estate planning documents, including living wills, living trusts, and delegating powers of attorney; execute real estate transfers across state lines. • Lead public educational seminars regarding living trusts and coordinate question and answer sessions. • Supervise new elder care focus of the firm by consulting with other attorneys and social workers; attend conferences and courses held by the National Academy of Elder Law Attorney (NAELA), the American Bar Association (ABA), and others regarding elder law and fraud.

Pakistan’s Blasphemy Laws in a Democratic Nation The Globe, International Law Committee - August 2009

The Globe

To Be or Not To Be United? AltM Magazine - February 2017

AltM Magazine

Your options under VAWA, Immigration Update, Facebook LIVE

April 7, 2020

La Carga Publica y otras Preguntas de Imigracion, Centro de Infomacion, Elgin

February 5, 2020

DACA-Sus Opciones Ahora, Immigration Update, Gail Borden Library

September 24, 2020

Mujeres con Proposito

The Intersection of Gender Violence and Religion, Parliament of World Religions, Toronto, Canada

November 7, 2018

Parliament of World Religions

Muslim Ban, Refugees, Trafficking

See for all details- https://www.qazilawoffices.com/copy-of-a-modern-approach-1

Woman Leader of the Year

Elgin YWCA

2020

Award is given to women leaders who combat racism and empower other woman.

Kane County Bar Association LRS

Member

Current

American Bar Association

Vice Chair of Middle East Affairs

Current

DuPage County Bar Association

Current

Muslim Bar Association

Family Planning and Emergency Response Liason

Current

Lawyers for Good Government

National Coordinator of Family Planning Immigration Project

Current

Illinois

Since 2004

• Credit Cards Accepted
• Rates, Retainers and Additional Information
  Consultations are fee-based and can be done in office, via phone or Skype. Most fees are flat and fixed rates.

Q. If I have an asylum status pending, can I apply for a green card employment based?

September 12, 2018

A: If you are applying for asylum in the United States, and have no other basis for staying here legally, then you must wait until your asylum case is approved before applying for a green card (U.S. lawful permanent residence).