825 Nicollet Mall, Suite 625, Minneapolis, MN 55402

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Sandra Feist

Telephone: 612-353-5530
Email Address: [email protected]

Sandra has been designated by Super Lawyers as a “Super Lawyer” (2021 and 2022), a “Top Female Attorney in Minnesota” (2014 – 2017), and as a “Top Rated Immigration Attorney in Minneapolis, MN” (2016 and 2017). She practices exclusively in the area of immigration law, with an emphasis on employment-based immigration matters. She is also an Adjunct Professor at the University of St. Thomas School of Law where she teaches immigration law. Click here for additional testimonials about Sandra’s legal services.

Sandra served for many years on the Board of Directors of the Minnesota Affiliate of the American Civil Liberties Union (MN-ACLU) and on the Executive Committee of the Minnesota-Dakotas Chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), including as Chapter Chair. She also regularly volunteers her time to local nonprofits, providing pro bono legal services and advice.

Sandra graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a B.A. in History and Political Science in 1999. She subsequently moved from Wisconsin to Louisiana where she began her career in immigration law in the year 2001 as a Case Manager for the prestigious New Orleans immigration law firm, David Ware & Associates.

Sandra began her legal studies at Loyola University School of Law in New Orleans, still maintaining her positionwith David Ware & Associates throughout her academic year. In August 2005, during the first week of her second year of law school, Sandra evacuated to visit her family in Minneapolis in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

After evacuation to Minnesota, Sandra was offered a position as a Law Clerk with the preeminent immigration law firm of Aronson & Associates, where she specialized in physician and corporate immigration law. She served as a Law Clerk throughout law school. Upon graduation in 2007, she was admitted to the Minnesota bar and she was offered a position as an Associate Attorney with the firm. More recently, in 2009, Sandra was admitted to practice in the Federal District Court for Minnesota.

Sandra has worked closely with clients in all areas of immigration law, including family-based, employment-based and removal and deportation. She specializes in employment-based immigration with an emphasis on researchers of extraordinary ability and advanced degreed professionals in all fields. In addition, she works with artists in a variety of fields, including broadcast journalism, dance, and visual arts. Sandra’s extensive experience enables her to advise clients from a multidimensional perspective that takes into account all available options under the immigration laws.

EDUCATION

Law School: William Mitchell College of Law, St. Paul, Minnesota.

Juris Doctor, cum laude, May 2007.

College: University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin.

Bachelor of Arts, August 1999.
Major: History and Political Science

EMPLOYMENT

  • Grell Feist PLC – Minneapolis, Minnesota – Partner – 2010-Present.
  • University of St. Thomas School of Law – Minneapolis, Minnesota – Adjunct Professor – 2021-Present.
  • Aronson & Associates, PA – Minneapolis, Minnesota – Associate Attorney – 2007-2010. Law Clerk – 2005-2007.
  • William Mitchell Immigration Law Clinic – St. Paul, Minnesota – Certified Student Attorney – 2006-2007.
  • David Ware & Associates – New Orleans, Louisiana – Legal Assistant – 2001-2005.

AWARDS AND RECOGNITION

  • Super Lawyers, 2021-2023.
  • American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), National President’s Commendation, 2023.
  • American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), National Advocacy Award, 2016.
  • American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), National Platinum Award for Chapter Excellence, 2016 (Awarded to the Minnesota-Dakotas AILA Chapter for Sandra’s year as Chapter Chair).
  • Super Lawyers: “Top Female Attorney in Minnesota,” 2014 – 2017.
  • Super Lawyers: “Top Rated Immigration Attorney in Minneapolis, MN,” 2016 – Present.
  • Super Lawyers: “Rising Star,” 2013-2017.

IN THE MEDIA

PUBLICATIONS

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES

  • Fellow, Hennepin County Bar Foundation, 2021 – Present.
  • National Mentor, American Immigration Lawyers Association, May 2014 – Present.
  • Volunteer Attorney, Minnesota Lawyers for the Arts, 2019 – Present.
  • Chair, American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) Media Advocacy Committee, 2019-2020.
  • Member, Board of Directors, Hennepin County Bar Association, 2017-2019.
  • Member, American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) 2018 Annual Conference Committee, 2017-2018.
  • Member, American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) Media Advocacy Committee, 2017-Present.
  • Member, American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) National Law Student Outreach Committee, 2016-2017.
  • Member of the Board of Directors, American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Minnesota, September 2009 – March 2017.
  • Executive Committee of the Board of Directors, ACLU-MN, Spring 2015 – Fall 2016.
  • Chair, Greater Minnesota Racial Justice Project Committee, ACLU-MN, 2015-2016.
  • Board of Governors, American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), 2015 – 2016.
  • Board of Governors, Nominating Committee, American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), 2016.
  • Immediate Past-Chair, Minnesota-Dakotas Chapter, American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), 2016-2017.
  • Chair, Minnesota-Dakotas Chapter, American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), 2015 – 2016.
  • Vice-Chair, Minnesota-Dakotas Chapter, American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), 2014 – 2015.
  • Secretary, Minnesota-Dakotas Chapter, American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), 2013 – 2014.
  • Treasurer, Minnesota-Dakotas Chapter, American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), 2012 – 2013.
  • Member, Minnesota-Dakotas Chapter, American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), 2009 – Present.
  • Member, The Hennepin Lawyer Committee of the Hennepin County Bar Association (HCBA), 2010 – 2018.
  • Chair, The Hennepin Lawyer Committee, 2011 – 2013.
  • Chair, Annual Conference Planning Committee, Minnesota-Dakotas Chapter, American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), 2011 and 2012.
  • Member, Annual Conference Planning Committee, Minnesota-Dakotas Chapter, American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), 2011- 2017.
  • Member, Minnesota Women Lawyers Public Policy Advocacy Committee, 2008 – 2012 (Co-Chair, 2010 – 2012).
  • Volunteer Attorney, Volunteer Lawyers’ Network / Immigration Clinic, February 2008 – 2016.
  • Volunteer Attorney, Advocates for Human Rights.
  • Volunteer Attorney, Mid-Minnesota Legal Assistance.
  • Volunteer Attorney, Volunteer Lawyers’ Network.
  • Volunteer Attorney, Immigration Law Center of Minnesota.
  • Member, Minnesota Women Lawyers, 2007 – 2019.
  • Member, YWCA Public Policy Committee, 2007 – 2012.

PRESENTATIONS

  • “The Biden Administration’s Priorities for the Next Four Years,” National Conference of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, June 10, 2021.
  • Whichever way the wind blows: post US election immigration considerations, International Bar Association, November 10, 2020.
  • Law Practice Management, National American Immigration Lawyers Association Conference, San Diego, California, June 20, 2020.
  • Ethical Practice Management and Paralegal Supervision, Upper Midwest Regional Conference of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, Minneapolis, Minnesota, May 29, 2020.
  • Roundtable Webinar Discussion on Writing Articles for the General Public, National American Immigration Lawyers Association, February 12, 2020.
  • The Ethical and Practical Considerations Under the New H-1B Registration System, Minneapolis, Minnesota, February 7, 2020.
  • “Recent RFE Trends in Employment-Based Immigration,” American Immigration Lawyers Association, September 23, 2019.
  • “Ethical Representation and Strategic Client Management in Turbulent Times,” Upper Midwest Regional Conference of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, Minneapolis, Minnesota, March 2019.
  • “Employment A to Z: The Basics of Business Immigration,” Minnesota Continuing Legal Education (CLE) Webcast Series, January 22, 2019.
  • “Advocacy in your Immigration Law Practice During Challenging Times,” The Annual Minnesota State Bar Association Immigration Section Meeting, Minneapolis, Minnesota, June 28, 2018.
  • “Labor Certification 101: Introduction to PERM,” National Conference of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, San Francisco, California, June 15, 2018.
  • “Immigration Advocacy,” Upper Midwest Regional Conference of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, Minneapolis, Minnesota, March 9, 2018.
  • “Finding What’s Special in Specialty Occupation,” Discussion Leader, National Conference of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, New Orleans, Louisiana, June 21, 2017.
  • “Overview of the Changes Under the New High-Skilled Non-immigrant Rule and How They Affect Your Clients,” American Immigration Lawyers Association, January 13, 2017.
  • “Employment-based U.S. Visas and Green Card Options,” ProHuddle.com, December 20, 2016.
  • “Annual Conference Re-Cap on Employment-Based Immigration Developments,” American Immigration Lawyers Association, June 28, 2016.
  • “Establishing the Employer-Employee Relationship in NIV Third-Party Placements” (Advanced Panel), National Conference of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, Las Vegas, Nevada, June 25, 2016.
  • “Building Your Reputation” for New Immigration Lawyers, Upper Midwest Regional Conference, Fundamentals Conference, American Immigration Lawyers Association, May 12, 2016.
  • “Federal Immigration Litigation – The Visa-gate Case / Business Litigation,” American Immigration Lawyers Association, December 4, 2015.
  • “Tips and Trends for Extraordinary Ability-Based Immigrant and Nonimmigrant Cases,” Upper Midwest Regional Conference of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, April 24, 2015.
  • “Employment-Based Immigration Law: A System in Dire Need of Reform,” William Mitchell College of Law, February 5, 2015.
  • “How to Be the CEO of Your Own Career,” William Mitchell College of Law, October 29, 2014.
  • “212(d)(3) Nonimmigrant Waivers: The Legal and Procedural Framework,” American Immigration Lawyers Association, August 13, 2014.
  • “Derivative Citizenship,” National Conference of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, Boston, Massachusetts, June 20, 2014.
  • “Strategic Immigration Writing,” Upper Midwest Regional Conference of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, May 9, 2014.
  • “H-1B Trends and Practice Tips on Avoiding and Responding to Requests for Additional Evidence (RFEs),” Minnesota State Bar Association, April 29, 2014.
  • “Preparing the H-1B Cap Season,” American Immigration Lawyers Association, February 20, 2014.
  • “The Basics of Employment-based Immigration,” Minnesota State Bar Association, November 20, 2013.
  • “Ethics and Professional Responsibility for Newer Immigration Practitioners,” American Immigration Lawyers Association, March 28, 2012.
  • Invited Speaker, Constitution Day, ACLU, September 17, 2010.
  • Invited Lecturer, St. Cloud State University, February 2010 and March 2010.
  • Presenter and organizer of CLE collaboration between the University of Minnesota Institute of Race and Poverty and the YWCA on the topic of Early Childhood Education and Racial Equality, January 2010.
  • Invited Lecturer, St. Thomas School of Law, International Law Society, March 4, 2008.
  • Invited Lecturer, Hamline University, April 2008.