In this episode, we talked with Shajuan "Shay" Alexander, LCSW, to walk us through what it actually looks like to do immigration evaluations. These evaluations are used in legal cases like asylum, VAWA, hardship waivers, and more. Shay shares how she got started, what she’s learned along the way, and what social workers need to know before adding this to their practice.

If you’ve ever been curious about immigration evaluations or want to understand how social work shows up in legal settings, this conversation is a practical place to start!

Takeaways From This Episode:

1. What immigration evaluations are and why they’re needed in court
2. The five types of evaluations social workers can do (and the licensing requirements)
3. How to approach interviews about trauma, violence, and political persecution with care
4. What goes into writing an evaluation
5. Why your relationships with attorneys matter just as much as your clinical skills
6. What to consider if you’re interested in this work but unsure where to start

Resources:

1. Check out the affiliated blog post for the full list of resources mentioned in this episode and the unedited transcript.
2. Social Work to Wealth Newsletter — a newsletter for the social worker wanting to level up their career and money.
3. OR text SOCIAL WORK to 33777 to join the newsletter!
4. Find Social Work to Wealth on: TikTok, Instagram, & YouTube.

Disclaimer: The information presented in this podcast & on any affiliated platforms is for educational, informational, & entertainment purposes only and should not be construed as legal, financial, or professional advice. Consuming this content does not create an attorney-client relationship. If you need legal advice pertaining to your particular situation, consult one-on-one with an attorney.