Why Innovation Should be Front and Center in the Global Immigration Conversation

Global immigration is far more complex today than ever before. Government immigration policies and priorities emerge and change daily. And with so many shifting industry dynamics at play, today’s global businesses need a whole new level of service from their immigration advisors to navigate the many uncertainties facing the market.

At the center of it all are the people who are responsible for the global deployment of an organization’s talent. Whether they hold the title of global mobility leader or human resource manager, to successfully carry out their organization’s workforce strategy, they need a new level of support. This includes: 1.) accurate, up-to-date information on immigration policies that impact the countries in which they do business, 2.) smart, strategic planning that accounts for the many ups and downs plaguing today’s immigration environment, and 3.) access to technologies that enable them to translate information and make decisions quickly, while protecting their most important data assets. Of course, in an industry as innately human as immigration, all of this must be managed with a very human touch.

In this landscape, today’s global immigration advisors and law firms must think and operate very differently. Effectively supporting the evolving needs of multinational clients means innovating across the board, from how you build your internal culture to how you manage your back-end IT to how you drive your front-end client service. This holistic approach to innovation, underpinned by technology, ensures you are building new ways of thinking and working into the fabric of your firm and connecting back to what clients need in this increasingly turbulent time.

Your innovation efforts should position your clients to:

• Get access to the information they need, anytime, anywhere

Immigration, by nature, transcends borders. Clients need a firm that can support them around the globe without barriers, lines or limitations — physically as well as virtually. To achieve this, firms must be sure that each client has access to the knowledge and expertise of each member of the firm, regardless of physical location. By harmonizing knowledge, insights and best practices on a global scale through integrated technologies and centralized systems, firms can ensure a seamless transfer of the most critical information to clients worldwide.

• Protect their most important data assets

At any given time, law firms have access to sensitive employee information, top-secret corporate strategies and competitive industry intelligence, making them attractive targets for theft. In fact, according to the Q1 2017 Law Firm Cyber Security Scorecard, every law firm assessed was targeted by attackers for confidential client data in 2016-2017, and 40% did not know they were breached[1]. For today’s law firm, not only is the back-end security critical, but you also must offer practical applications for the people you have handling data. The management and preservation of client data should be infused into every area of a law firm.

• Experience a more personal, memorable relationship with you

Immigration is personal. At the heart of it lies a very human experience. As we employ new ways of serving our clients at BAL, from front-end mobile technology applications to back-end administrative automation, we never forget that our goal is to increase our focus on what matters most: giving our clients the best, most meaningful experience possible.

The practice of immigration is changing dramatically. It’s been my experience that to help our clients stay ahead, we need to keep our finger on the pulse of an ever-changing market and constantly assess and progress how we think and work. With the right mindset, behaviors and approaches in place, we have the power to revolutionize what a global immigration firm can do.

[1] See LogicForce, Law Firm Cyber Security Scorecard – Q1 2017: http://marketing.logicforce.com/acton/attachment/21751/f-0058/1/-/-/-/-/lf_cyber_security_scorecard_060317.pdf

Jeremy Fudge serves as Managing Partner of BAL. His practice encompasses all aspects of US business immigration law, including advising companies in US immigration practice and policy concerns.