Sheela Murthy is the founder and president of Owings Mills-based Murthy Law Firm in Baltimore County, which works exclusively in the area of U.S. immigration law, according to the firm?s Web site. Born in India, she graduated from Harvard Law School, received her green card in 1994 and became a full citizen in 1998. Her law firm employs 75 professionals and represents businesses and individuals. Her firm?s attorneys also speak at conferences and seminars to teach lawyers and the public about immigration law.Murthy spoke to The Examiner about her firm and her experiences seeking U.S. citizenship.
What led you to start the firm and specialize in immigration issues?
I personally had a really bad experience with my immigration lawyer in New York. In the three or four years it took me to get my green card, I never got calls about the status of my case. I only talked to him when he was increasing his fees.
If he could do this to me, a fellow lawyer colleague, I felt there was a niche out there for a good lawyer who would sympathize and genuinely care for these people.
What do you do to train your employees in these issues? Who are your clients?
Right from the start, we ask [employees]: What is your relationship with immigrants, what are your views on the issue? We train them from day one.
I don?t know about other people, but certainly all of our clients are good, law-abiding people. These are professional people … they are paying taxes, following the law, abiding by the rules, who want to become U.S. citizens.
On Tuesday, the federal government will begin accepting applications for the H1B work visa. What are you telling your clients?
We?re dealing with huge problems because right now the H1B quotas, where employers sponsor a certain number of workers, is 65,000 nationwide for all companies. But guess what, on April 1 last year, there were 135,000 applicants. [This year] it?s going to be filled on the first day.
We?re honest, we?re telling people, go ahead and spend the money, file the legal work, but I can?t promise you?ll get in. They?re lucky if there?s a 30 percent chance they?ll get in.
