Type of work an attorney can accept under a TN visa..?

[BrainyBabe]

I am a recent U.S. law school graduate and a Canadian citizen. I am currently working on a contract basis as an attorney here in the U.S., paid on a W-2, for a U.S. law firm while on my one-year optional practical training period. I am not involved in a multi-firm organization or in any type of business law. I intend to apply for a TN visa when this year is up. I am having difficulty trying to figure out what type of work I can accept under a TN visa. Does all of my employment income need to come through my contract with the law firm, or can I accept, for example, court appointments that would pay me directly? Can I accept employment from a U.S. law firm to work as a domestic relations attorney, supplemented by court appointments? If I can accept court appointments, does this income have to be channeled through the law firm?

I would love to find another attorney who is working in the U.S. under a TN visa to compare notes with!

I am so utterly confused. Law school did not prepare me for dealing with immigration issues and my hat is off to those who deal with these rules on a daily basis.

Any help you can offer is appreciated.

Thanks.
C

[Christopher G. Rizzo, Esq]

If you're bar licensed you can work for any U.S. employer, but can't be self-employed. If your working as in-house counsel, you may not even need the bar license.