OFF THE PRESS

The new, second edition of "The Startup Visa: Key to Job Growth and Economic Prosperity" by immigration attorney and activist Tahmina Watson appears just as the U.S. re-emerges on the world economic stage and strives to regain a leadership position in global innovation. This leadership can only happen, Watson says, if the country strategically deploys one of its most potent resources: immigrant entrepreneurs.

"A bipartisan startup visa for immigrant entrepreneurs is essential for keeping America in this global race before the rest of the world surpasses us," says Watson, who is herself an American immigrant and citizen of Bangladeshi heritage. "Historically, America has seen its best economic success when both domestic and international workers are able to contribute."

Watson points out, many immigrant entrepreneurs "are American citizens waiting to happen."

An expert in immigration law and the founder of the Watson Immigration Law firm in Seattle, Wash., Watson offers an analysis in her book of how existing options for immigrant entrepreneurs are not always good fits for today's investor-backed founders. These include the H-1B, L-1A and E-2 visas. She also discusses the merits and strengths of the recently restored International Entrepreneur Program.

"Entrepreneurs, investors and policymakers will all find 'The Startup Visa' to be a helpful, practical guide," Watson says. "It's meant to be the kind of go-to reference that stays on your desk, and on your desktop."

Brad Feld, the cofounder of Techstars, a global platform that connects entrepreneurs, investors and corporations, wrote the foreword to this second edition, which comes six years after the first publication of "Startup Visa" in 2015. That was one year before the Trump administration began significantly truncating the role of immigrant entrepreneurs in the American economy. Watson's "Legal Heroes in the Trump Era," which she published a month before Joseph R. Biden became president-elect, chronicled the efforts of a number of attorneys during that time to maintain equitable processes in immigration law.

"The Startup Visa," 2nd edition, is available in e-book, and paperback on Amazon.

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A new book from the American Bar Association, "The Ultimate Guide to Adobe Acrobat DC, Second Edition," by Daniel J. Siegel and Pamela A. Myers of Integrated Technology Services and the Law Offices of Daniel J. Siegel, is an indispensable desk reference for Acrobat users in the legal profession and beyond.

PDFs are the standard in legal communities for creating, analyzing, storing and exchanging digital documents, and for filing documents in courts and other entities with electronic filing systems, and Adobe Acrobat DC is the most popular PDF software on the market. PDFs are also essential for "paperless" law firms seeking to improve their efficiency and reduce overhead, spend more time serving clients and reduce support staff costs and overhead.

An essential guide for every Acrobat user, the fully revised second edition includes step-by-step instructions for PC and Mac users, with nearly 300 screenshots showing how to get the most from Acrobat, from its most common tools to its most advanced features. Published in conjunction with the ABA Law Practice Division, "The Ultimate Guide to Adobe Acrobat DC" serves as the go-to resource for law firms jumping on the paperless bandwagon. The first edition received exceptional reviews from users, and the authors' Acrobat and paperless office training programs, continuing education seminars and presentations are highly popular.

Co-author Siegel is a nationally recognized authority on ethics, technology, data protection and business workflow management. He regularly consults with law firms and businesses on workflow management, implementation of paperless offices and other productivity matters. Siegel also provides techno-ethics counsel to solo, small and mid-sized law firms on cybersecurity, technology and other related issues. He is a prolific speaker and author and chairs the ABA Professional Development Board and Pennsylvania Bar Association's Committee on Legal Ethics and Professional Responsibility and is a member of the Philadelphia Bar Association's Professional Guidance Committee.

Co-author Myers has 25 years of experience as an office administrator, technology consultant, software and workflow trainer and paralegal. She has superior technical proficiency in mass market and legal software, which she shares through various writing and speaking endeavors.

"The Ultimate Guide to Adobe Acrobat DC, Second Edition" paperback costs $79.95 and can be ordered online at www.shopaba.org.

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A new book from the American Bar Association, "Military Discharge Upgrade Legal Practice Manual," is a desk reference for veteran's rights advocates to use throughout the process of developing a discharge upgrade application.

The landmark guide, written by attorneys from the Legal Services Center of Harvard Law School's Veterans Legal Clinic, Connecticut Veterans Legal Center and other legal experts in the field, will help veterans with discharges resulting from PTSD, military sexual trauma or discrimination based on race, gender and sexual orientation correct unjust and stigmatizing discharges, and qualify for health care, education and other benefits.

Drawn from the expertise of practitioners in the field, the manual covers fact investigation, legal research and case strategy in advocating for veterans in discharge upgrade petitions to military review boards. Every stage of representation receives detailed attention, from initial client intake to administrative proceedings to federal court review. Among the topics covered are:

• Identifying procedural errors in the military discharge process.

• Finding inequities and injustices in the discharge.

• Compiling and developing evidence.

• Crafting arguments to support the relief sought.

• Presenting a compelling narrative to the tribunal.

• Framing and preserving legal issues for review to an appellate court.

• Pursuing remedies through the Department of Veterans Affairs Character of Discharge Determination process.

Authors of the guide include:

• Margaret Kuzma, an attorney in the Veterans Legal Clinic at the Legal Services Center of Harvard Law School, where her work focuses on complex discharge upgrade petitions.

• Dana Montalto, a clinical instructor and lecturer-on-law in the Veterans Legal Clinic at the Legal Services Center of Harvard Law School, where her work and teaching focus on representing veterans with less-than-honorable discharges.

• Betsy Gwin, associate director of the Veterans Legal Clinic at the Legal Services Center of Harvard Law School, where she is a clinical instructor and lecturer-on- law.

• Daniel Nagin, a clinical professor and faculty director of the Veterans Legal Clinic and the Legal Services Center of Harvard Law School.

"Military Discharge Upgrade Legal Practice Manual" is available as a paperback and eBook for $109.95. To order a copy, visit www.shopaba.org.