{"id":26,"date":"2015-08-27T12:07:14","date_gmt":"2015-08-27T12:07:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/chiomaaziesq.com\/?page_id=26"},"modified":"2024-11-25T00:04:07","modified_gmt":"2024-11-25T00:04:07","slug":"credentials","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/chiomaaziesq.com\/index.php\/credentials\/","title":{"rendered":"Experience"},"content":{"rendered":"<hr \/>\n<figure id=\"attachment_109\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-109\" style=\"width: 234px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-109\" src=\"https:\/\/chiomaaziesq.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/NLA-2015-6.jpg\" alt=\"Chioma Azi\" width=\"234\" height=\"470\" srcset=\"https:\/\/chiomaaziesq.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/NLA-2015-6.jpg 478w, https:\/\/chiomaaziesq.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/NLA-2015-6-149x300.jpg 149w, https:\/\/chiomaaziesq.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/NLA-2015-6-230x462.jpg 230w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 234px) 100vw, 234px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-109\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Nigerian Lawyers Association Merit Awards 2015<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong><u>KEY PROFESSIONAL ROLES<br \/><\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Law Office of Chioma Azi<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><em>Philadelphia, PA<\/em><\/p>\n<p><u>Managing Attorney <\/u>( 2009-current)<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Areas of focus include immigration, human resources, family law, wills and trusts and non-profit consulting<\/li>\n<li>Immigration practice focus: family based petitions, naturalization, permanent residency, employment &amp; study petitions and authorization (P, O, R, F-1, M, J-1), removal defense, asylum, victims of trafficking, abuse and crime<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>City of Philadelphia Board of Ethics\u00a0<\/strong><br \/><em>Philadelphia, PA<\/em><\/p>\n<p><u>Senior Staff Attorney <\/u>( 2024-current)<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Assist with training on City and State law governing ethics, lobbying, campaign finance and financial disclosure for City of Philadelphia officers and employees<\/li>\n<li>Provide written guidance on ethics compliance to current and prospective City employees<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>African Cultural Alliance of North America Inc.\u00a0<\/strong><br \/><em>Philadelphia, PA<\/em><\/p>\n<p><u>Chief Staff Attorney <\/u>( 2012-2020)<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Founder of the legal department and served as chief legal counsel of ACANA, a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization that assists African and Caribbean immigrants in their resettlement and adjustment in the United States.<\/li>\n<li>Represented or assisted more than 120 individuals in matters covering immigration law, criminal defense, family law and small business consultation.<\/li>\n<li>57% winning case record for removal (deportation) cases<\/li>\n<li>Processed P-1 visas for international artists, dancers and musicians<\/li>\n<li>Assisted with grant writing, drafting of project proposals and grant implementation<\/li>\n<li>Led community advocacy and direct engagement with a variety of public, private and non-profit sector organizations<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Law Office of Thomas Massucci<br \/><\/strong><em>New York, NY<strong><br \/><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p><u>Volunteer Immigration Attorney <\/u>(2009-2010)<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Volunteered with boutique immigration firm specializing in asylum and removal defense.<\/li>\n<li>Performed master calendar in New York and Philadelphia for immigrants seeking asylum based on family planning, religious persecution and political opinion<\/li>\n<li>Drafted memos, researched laws governing asylum and removal, cancellation of removal and the Convention Against Torture treaty<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong><u>EDUCATION &amp; TRAINING <\/u><\/strong><br \/><strong>International Institute of Humanitarian Law (September 28- October 2, 2009)<br \/><\/strong><em>San Remo, Italy<\/em><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Obtained a Certificate in Migration law from the Attended the 5<sup>th<\/sup> Annual International Migration Law Course organized by the International Organization for Migration and the International Institute of Humanitarian Law<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>Completed course work on a range of areas within European Union and International Migration Law, including International Humanitarian Law, International Labor Law, International Maritime Law and International Refugee Law<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Duquesne University School of Law<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Juris Doctorate degree awarded June 2008<\/li>\n<li>Awarded a full academic scholarship by Duquesne University<\/li>\n<li>Awarded the James W. Stoudt Memorial Scholarship, sponsored by the Pennsylvania Bar Association in 2007<\/li>\n<li>Awarded the Oliver L. Johnson Scholarship, sponsored by the Homer S. Brown Law Association of Pittsburgh in 2007<\/li>\n<li>Secretary of the Black Law Students Association, 2006-2008<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>University<\/strong><strong> of Pittsburgh\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Bachelors of Science degree in Psychology, <em>magna cum laude<\/em> awarded April 2004<\/li>\n<li>Minor in French, Certificate in Global Studies<\/li>\n<li>Member of the Golden Key National Honor Society, Inducted November 2002<\/li>\n<li>Studied abroad in Nantes, France, September 2002- December 2002<\/li>\n<li>Secretary, African Students Organization, 2003-2004<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong><u>COMMUNITY\u00a0ENGAGEMENT <\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\u00a0<span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Chief Executive Officer &amp; Founder of the <a href=\"https:\/\/phillynaijaprofessionals.com\/\">Philly Nigerian Professionals<\/a>-June 2011-present<\/span>&#8211; a networking and professional development organization that hosts and promotes social, charitable and cultural events for African professionals in the Greater Philadelphia area.<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Treasurer\u00a0of <a href=\"http:\/\/friendsofunifat.org\/\">Friends of UNIFAT Inc.<\/a> (the Upper Nile Institute for Appropriate Technology)-2013<\/span>-present-a Philadelphia-based 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization that supports UNIFAT Primary School located in Gulu, Uganda<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Executive Director of the <a href=\"http:\/\/norahanenafoundation.org\/\">Norah Anena Foundation<\/a>-2015-present<\/span>-a non-profit organization that promotes cultural\u00a0restoration and\u00a0provides access to tuition assistance,\u00a0skills development for underprivileged youths in Northern Uganda<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Member of the Pennsylvania Commission on African-American Affairs-April 2021-April 2024<\/span>-Appointed by Governor Tom Wolf, re-appointed by Governor Josh Shapiro commission comprised of 20 professionals from around the state, advises the governor on policies, procedures, legislation, and regulations relevant to African-Americans in Pennsylvania. GACAAA also works to expand and enhance the civic, social, educational, cultural, and economic status of the African American Community.<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Member of the Mayor\u2019s Task Force on Paid Sick Leave-June 2014-December 2014<\/span>-Appointed by Mayor Michael Nutter, worked alongside 2 co-chairs, 13 other task force members and 5 staff to review the economic, public health and business implications of mandating paid sick leave for individuals working in the city of Philadelphia.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong><u>SKILLS\/AWARDS<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Recipient of the 2015 Exemplary Service Award from the Nigerian Lawyers Association<\/li>\n<li>Proficient in French (reading, written, spoken)<\/li>\n<li>Beginners level in Acoli Luo (spoken only)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong><u>BAR ADMISSIONS<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Pennsylvania (Attorney ID 209346)<\/li>\n<li>New Jersey (Attorney ID 023362008, resigned)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\u00a0 KEY PROFESSIONAL ROLES Law Office of Chioma Azi Philadelphia, PA Managing Attorney ( 2009-current) Areas of focus include immigration, human resources, family law, wills and trusts and non-profit consulting Immigration practice focus: family based petitions, naturalization, permanent residency, employment &amp; study petitions and authorization (P, O, R, F-1, M, J-1), removal defense, asylum, victims [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":4,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"page-templates\/page_fullwidth.php","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-26","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/chiomaaziesq.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/26","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/chiomaaziesq.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/chiomaaziesq.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chiomaaziesq.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chiomaaziesq.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=26"}],"version-history":[{"count":54,"href":"https:\/\/chiomaaziesq.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/26\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":500,"href":"https:\/\/chiomaaziesq.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/26\/revisions\/500"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/chiomaaziesq.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=26"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}