Beata Leja is a Partner at the law firm of Minsky, McCormick & Hallagan, P.C. Beata's practice includes both employment-based and family-based immigration law. She is an active member of the Chicago Chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), where she has served on the LGBT Committee, the Customs & Border Protection (CBP) Liaison Committee, the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) & Department of Labor (DOL) Liaison Committee, as well as many others. She is also a member of the Federal Bar Association, the Women's Bar Association, and the Advocates Society for Polish lawyers. In 2015, 2016, and 2017, she was named an Emerging Lawyer in Immigration Law by Leading Lawyers, a distinction given to only 2% of lawyers licensed to practice law in Illinois. She has also been recognized as a Rising Star in Immigration by Super Lawyers Magazine in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017, and awarded the Pro Bono Guardian award by AILA for her pro bono services to the immigrant community. Beata has conducted seminars about immigration law for students, employers, employees and attorneys. She is admitted to practice law in the State of Illinois and in the US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.
Beata is a 2007 graduate of Loyola University Chicago School of Law, where she was a member of the Niagara International Moot Court Team (3rd Best Oralist). Prior to law school, she was a teacher in the Chicago Public Schools as a corps member of the national service corps Teach for America. She has a Master of Education from National–Louis University and two Bachelor's degrees in Spanish and International Relations from the University of Southern California. She is fluent in Polish and conversant in Spanish.
Practice areas
Ms. Leja’s practices employment-based and family-based immigration law. She is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), where she serves on the Illinois Department of Employment Security/Department of Labor Committee. She is also a member of the Federal Bar Association. She has been awarded the Pro Bono Guardian award by AILA for her service to the immigrant community, and has conducted seminars about immigration law for students, employers, employees and attorneys.
15 years
Languages spoken
English, Polish, Spanish
210 S. Clark St. Suite 2025
Chicago, IL, 60603-4053
State | Status | Acquired | Updated |
---|---|---|---|
IL | Active And Authorized To Practice Law | 2007 | 03/03/2022 |
Legal answers | 116 |
Legal guides | 0 |
Award name | Grantor | Date Granted |
---|---|---|
2016 Rising Star - Immigration | Super Lawyers Magazine | 2016 |
Emerging Lawyer: Immigration Law - Individual | Leading Lawyers Network | 2016 |
Emerging Lawyer: Immigration Law - Individual | Leading Lawyers Network | 2015 |
2015 Illinois Rising Star - Immigration | Super Lawyers Magazine | 2015 |
Illinois Rising Star 2014 - Immigration | Super Lawyers | 2014 |
Illinois Rising Star - Immigration 2013 | Super Lawyers Magazine | 2013 |
Illinois Rising Star 2012 - Immigration | Super Lawyers Magazine | 2012 |
Illinois Rising Stars 2011 - Immigration | Super Lawyers | 2011 |
Pro Bono Guardian | American Immigration Lawyers Association | 2008 |
3rd Best Advocate | Niagara International Moot Court Competition | 2006 |
CALI Award - Appellate Advocacy | Loyola University Chicago School of Law | 2005 |
Title | Company name | Duration |
---|---|---|
Attorney | Minsky, McCormick & Hallagan, P.C. | 2007 - Present |
Association name | Position name | Duration |
---|---|---|
American Immigration Lawyers Association (Chicago chapter) - Midwest Regional Conference Planning Committee | Member | 2017 - Present |
American Immigration Lawyers Association - Texas Service Center Liaison Committee | Member | 2017 - Present |
Chicago Ideas Week - The Cooperative (Co-Op) | Member | 2013 - Present |
American Immigration Lawyers Association - Chicago Chapter - Customs & Border Protection (CBP) Committee | Member | 2013 - Present |
American Immigration Lawyers Association - Chicago Chapter - LGBT Committee | Co-chair | 2013 - Present |
Federal Bar Association (Chicago chapter) | Member | 2010 - Present |
Women's Bar Association of Illinois | Member | 2010 - Present |
American Immigration Lawyers Association | Member | 2007 - Present |
Advocates Society (Chicago) | Member | 2007 - Present |
American Immigration Lawyers Association (Chicago chapter) | Co-chair - Fall Conference Planning Committee | 2015 - 2016 |
American Immigration Lawyers Association - Chicago Chapter - Fall Conference Planning Committee | Member | 2013 - 2015 |
American Immigration Lawyers Association - Chicago Chapter - Media Committee | Member | 2013 - 2015 |
American Immigration Lawyers Association - Chicago Chapter - Social Security Administration (SSA) Liaison Committee | Co-Chair | 2011 - 2012 |
American Immigration Lawyers Association - Chicago Chapter - Continuing Legal Education (CLE) Committee | Chair | 2011 - 2012 |
American Immigration Lawyers Association - Chicago Chapter - Continuing Legal Education (CLE) Committee | Member | 2010 - 2014 |
American Immigration Lawyers Association - Chicago Chapter - Illinois Department of Employment Security & Department of Labor (IDES/DOL) Liaison Committee | Member | 2008 - 2010 |
Publication name | Title | Date |
---|---|---|
MMH Blog | You’ll Have to Wait Until May 10, 2016 for the New STEM OPT Rule | 2016 |
MMH Blog | Proving bona fide nature of a same-sex marriage | 2015 |
Medill News Service | OBAMA STILL ‘OPTIMISTIC’ AS JUDGE DELAYS EXPANSION OF IMMIGRANT ORDERS | 2015 |
Chicago Ideas Blog | Modern-day Civil Rights Leader: Beata Leja | 2014 |
MMH Blog | Cook County, Illinois Must Immediately Begin Issuing Marriage Licenses to Same-Sex Couples | 2014 |
School name | Degree | Graduated |
---|---|---|
Loyola University Chicago School of Law | Juris Doctor | 2007 |
National-Louis University | Master of Education | 2003 |
University of Southern California | Bachelor of Arts | 2001 |
Conference name | Title | Date |
---|---|---|
AILA Chicago Fall Business Conference | Hot Topics: Business Immigration Updates | 2016 |
Beyond the Business Immigration ABC’s | EB1, NIW and O Visas For Professors, Scientists and Researchers | 2016 |
The Business of Doing Business Immigration | Getting Incorporated: An Introduction to Hiring Nonimmigrants for the Newer Practitioner | 2015 |
Brighton Park Neighborhood Council | Deferred Action for Parental Accountability (DAPA) | 2015 |
Chicago Public Library Events & Programs | Same-Sex Couples and Immigration Benefits After the Fall of DOMA | 2013 |
Immigration & Nationality Law Committee Meeting | How to Prepare Your Clients for Immigration Reform | 2013 |
Chicago Bar Association | Same-Sex Couples & Immigration Benefits After the Fall of DOMA | 2013 |
Citizenship in a Globa Era | The Disenfranchised: Undocumented & Stateless People | 2012 |
Assistant to Adjunct Professor | Immigration Law & The Workplace | 2012 |
The Gray Areas: Resolving Selected Problems in Business Immigration | Maintenance of Status | 2011 |
Assistant to Adjunct Professor | Immigration Law & The Workplace | 2011 |
AILA Monthly Meeting | IDES Updates | 2011 |
Careers in Immigration Law | Loyola Alums in Practice - Immigration Law | 2010 |
Immigration Seminar | Overview of Family-Based Immigration & H-1B Visa | 2010 |
NAAIIP Employer’s Conference | Maintaining H-1B Employees During a Recession | 2009 |
Amicus Poloniae Law Day | Immigration 101 | 2008 |
Amicus Poloniae Legal Clinic | Immigration 101 | 2008 |
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November 27, 2018
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Jeffrey Cohn, Immigration Attorney on Apr 24, 2022
Relationship: Worked together on matter
I endorse this lawyer.
Kathryn Karam, Immigration Attorney on Oct 24, 2017
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
I know Beata Leja through a professional organization. I have found her comments and input to be informative and helpful. She is a person who cares about her clients. I endorse Beata.
Jeffrey Cohn, Immigration Attorney on Apr 24, 2022
Relationship: Worked together on matter
I endorse this lawyer.
Kathryn Karam, Immigration Attorney on Oct 24, 2017
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
I know Beata Leja through a professional organization. I have found her comments and input to be informative and helpful. She is a person who cares about her clients. I endorse Beata.
Marjorie Baltazar, Immigration Attorney on Mar 16, 2017
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
I endorse this lawyer.
Pamela Pierro, Immigration Attorney on Feb 10, 2015
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
Beata is an exceptional lawyer and well respected in her field. I highly recommend her.
M. Miller, Immigration Attorney on Dec 1, 2013
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
I endorse this lawyer.
Asheesh Sharma, Immigration Attorney on Oct 25, 2012
Relationship: Co-worker
Beata is a top-notch attorney who is highly respected in the legal community. I endorse her.