David Blum | New York Immigration Lawyer

I graduated summa cum laude from the University of Miami where I clerked for the Hon. Edward Moore of the 11th Circuit Court and interned with the US Attorney for the Southern District of Florida. I have been practicing law in New York for almost 30 years. I am a member of the New York State Bar Association and the Bronx Bar Association, and I am a member of the Bronx 18B panel which appoints private attorneys to represent indigent individuals charged with crimes in the Bronx. I am admitted to practice in all of the Courts of the State of New York as well as the Southern and Eastern District Courts. I have represented clients in immigration matters in the Federal Immigration Court and before the USCIS in several different States. I represent attorneys in disciplinary proceedings before the Office of Character and Fitness, and I volunteer as a Judge at mock trials and moot court competitions at NYU Law School, Cardozo Law School, and NY Law School.

Lawyer.com Member Questionnaire

Please describe a case(s) in the last year or two where you made a big difference.
Working with a same-sex couple where we are on the verge of obtaining permanent residence status for the beneficiary through the Immigration court. Prio counsel didn’t take the time to listen to the clients to really establish the bona fides of the relationship

Got a criminal matter dismissed on behalf of a client whose spouse had lied about him in order to obtain government benefits. The client was facing incarceration and was devastated both by the loss of the relationship, the nature of the charges and of course the consequences. We proved that the charges had been fabricated, without subjecting the client to the financial and emotional burden of a trial.

How did you build a successful practice?
Listening to my clients and working with them. Understanding that the client needs to be part of the process. Providing cost-effective, successful results.

What should clients look for in a lawyer?
Someone who has the time to handle their case. Someone who will give them an honest assessment of their matter in advance. Someone who is personable and with whom they can establish a relationship of trust.

How important is local knowledge to the success of your cases?
Knowing your venue and your possible Jury pool can be essential in certain types of cases, especially in personal injury matters.

What information can you provide in a free phone consultation?
Depending on the type of case that answer will vary greatly.

A short conversation can generally point the client in the right direction and put them at ease whether or not they retain my firm. Things like the type of bankruptcy, whether they should be speaking to law enforcement, or whether they have a case at all.

What information do you need in a free phone consultation?
That answer will vary greatly. Generally, the nature of the case, when, where and how they the matter arose, and then the broad particulars of the matter.

What differentiates you from other lawyers in your community?
I believe that it is my level of empathy and my ability to visualize situations and present creative solutions that sets me apart.

What is the most rewarding aspect of your job?
Achieving a successful result for a client where the consequences would otherwise be truly life-changing. Things like saving someone from deportation, or jail, or crushing debt gives me a feeling that is almost indescribable. Its why I continue to practice law.

What are your other interests in addition to law?
My family of course. I also enjoy staying fit and outdoor activities hiking and cycling.

Are you involved in your community?
Besides being on the board of a local county bar association, and being on the Bronx 18b panel for appointments to criminal cases, I am a member of the NY Bar Association, and I am affiliated with the National Action Network, and STARR, (Strategic Trans Alliance for Radical Reform.