Robert A. Free
Phone: 206.622.1604Fax: 206.343.3961
PRACTICE EMPHASIS AND EXPERIENCE
Immigration Law
Bob has been a member of the firm since 1975. He began practicing immigration law in 1978. His practice includes business and family immigration, removal defense, asylum law, and representing clients before U.S. consulates abroad. Bob has advised clients in connection with I-9 audits and other employer sanctions matters. Bob has argued cases before the Board of Immigration Appeals, the Administrative Appeals Office, the U.S. District Court and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.
Bob is "AV" rated by Martindale-Hubbell*, the highest rating obtainable by members of the legal community.
PROFESSIONAL AND CIVIC INVOLVEMENT
- American Civil Liberties Union (Past Legal Committee Member)
- American Immigration Lawyers Association (Past President of Washington Chapter; Past Member of the Board of Governors of the national association); Past National Visa Practice Committee (Past Chair); Former Congressional and Consular Liaison representative for the local chapter
- Compassion & Choices (Advisory Board Member)
- Immigrant Family Advocacy Project, University of Washington School of Law (Member of Advisory Board)
- Northwest Immigrant Rights Project, Pro Bono Attorney
- Planned Parenthood for Seattle/King County (Past Board Member)
- Seattle Habitat for Humanity (Past Board Member)
- Seattle University School of Law, Former Adjunct Professor of Law
- Washington Citizens for Abortion Choice (Past President)
- Washington State Bar Association
University of California at Berkeley, B.A., 1969
Stanford University, M.A., 1970
University of Washington, J.D., 1975
BAR/COURT ADMISSIONS
Washington State Bar, 1975
U.S. District Court, Western District of Washington, 1975
U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit, 1983
U.S. District Court, District of Hawaii, 1993
U.S. Supreme Court, 1996
HONORS AND AWARDS
- Listed in "Best Lawyers in America" in the field of immigration law
- Listed in "Who's Who in American Law"
- Named a “Super Lawyer” by Washington Law & Politics Magazine
- Listed in “Best Lawyers in Immigration Law” in Seattle Metropolitan Magazine
- Listed in “Who’s Who Legal/Corporate Immigration Law”
PUBLICATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS
Bob is a frequent lecturer at local and national immigration law seminars and writes about immigration law for scholarly publications. His publications include:
- “Representing the Most Vulnerable,” Washington State Bar News, Vol. 57, No. 12, December 2003
- “Advisory Opinions from the Visa Office,” The Visa Processing Guide, First through Eighth Editions, American Immigration Lawyers Association
- “New Affidavit of Support Requirement,” Immigration & Nationality Law Handbook, American Immigration Lawyers Association 1998-99
- “Financial Responsibility,” Northwest Regional Immigration Seminar, Seattle King County Bar Association and Washington State American Immigration Lawyers Association 1998
- “Waivers of Criminal and Related Exclusion Grounds,” Immigrant and Nonimmigrant Waivers, American Immigration Lawyer’s Association 1994
- “The Lawyer’s Role in Consular Visa Refusals,” Immigration Briefings, Fed. Publications, Inc., Nov. 1990 (Updated and reprinted April 2008). "The Lawyer's Role in Consular Visa Refusals" © 2008 Thomson Reuters/West. Posted here with permission. For more information about this publication please visit www.west.thomson.com
- “Review of Consular Visa Denials,” AILA Journal, American Immigration Lawyers Association., 1989
- “Consular Processing,” American Immigration Lawyers Association 43rd Annual Symposium, 1989
PERSONAL
Bob is an avid rancher and part-time cowboy.