Pearl Lee is an attorney at Cohen Forman Barone, where she is an essential part of the immigration team. As a child of immigrants herself, Pearl holds the utmost respect for those who make the courageous decision to start anew in the United States. She helps clients and their families navigate matters before all U.S. immigration agencies and courts.

Pearl’s passion for becoming a voice for others was kindled while earning her Bachelor's in Sociology from Drew University. There, she was awarded multiple research grants to study the adverse effects of stringent policies on families in South Korea. Pearl presented her findings at the 2018 Eastern Sociological Society Meeting, where she was awarded “Best of Session”. This work inspired Pearl to earn her Juris Doctorate from the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University.

Experience

Before joining Cohen Forman Barone, Pearl worked as a law clerk in New York City in the commercial and insurance defense spheres.. She has also prepared several winning appeals and petitions while working with the Legal Aid Society and the Westchester County courts. Her experience in these areas has proven invaluable in her career representing non-immigrants in both removal and deportation proceedings before the immigration courts and in affirmative filings before USCIS, including green card applications, naturalization petitions, and asylum submissions.

While at Pace University, Pearl demonstrated a high commitment to the welfare of the general public and was a recipient of a Lawrence and Louise Ottinger scholarship. She also served as a research assistant to Merril Sobie, an expert in family and children’s law. Pearl was chosen to be a Mock Trial Skills Director for the Pace Law Advocacy Board, where she competed in six national mock trial competitions.

Commitment

Pearl has demonstrated unwavering dedication to her clients as evidenced by her career in litigation. Her commitment to justice extends beyond the courtroom, as she has also proven herself to be a proactive advocate for legislative change. Notably, Pearl played a pivotal role in lobbying for the passage of New York's Child Parent Security Act, which came into effect in 2021, underscoring her passion for ensuring legal protections and rights for all individuals.

Language Proficiency

Pearl is fluent in written and spoken Korean.