Practice Areas: Immigration
Licensed in Illinois since: 1988
Education: University of Illinois College of Law
Selected to Super Lawyers: 2007 - 2008, 2014 - 2024 Call today:
312-357-0033
Virtual Appointments Law Offices of Richard Hanus
161 North Clark StreetSuite 2500
Chicago, IL 60601 Visit website
Details
As founder of The Law Offices of Richard Hanus in Chicago, Illinois, attorney Richard Hanus has offices in downtown Chicago, Elgin, Waukegan and serves clientele throughout the state, the U.S. and worldwide. Mr. Hanus concentrates his practice solely on immigration law and has 30 years of experience. He and the members of his firm speak English, Hebrew, Lithuanian, Polish, Russian and Tagalog, making their services accessible to a wide range of clients with immigration issues.
Mr. Hanus earned a bachelor’s degree from Northwestern University and received his law degree from the University of Illinois College of Law. He obtained his Illinois law license in 1988 and opened his solo practice in 1990.
Serving individuals, businesses and families, Mr. Hanus has experience with all types of immigration matters, business and family related immigration law as well as defending foreign nationals in removal/deportation proceedings. He is also passionate about educating others on immigration topics and regularly speaks at continuing legal education programs. He also regularly provides legal commentary for media outlets, including Frontline on PBS, and The Wall Street Journal as well as on via his regular blog at www.usavisacounsel.com
Active in his local and national legal communities, Mr. Hanus provides pro bono counsel to clients through Chicago Volunteer Legal Services. He is a former chair of their immigration law clinic, which provides free legal representation to those in need of services. He is a two-time recipient of the organization’s Distinguished Service Award.
Mr. Hanus has been a long time volunteer and board member for The ARK Chicago, a nonprofit organization in partnership with the Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago. He was a member of the board of directors starting in 2003 and went on to serve as president and chairman of the board. He is also an active member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association.
FUN FACT: 🎥 A critically acclaimed Off-Broadway play - The Courtroom - was produced based on verbatim transcripts of trials and Mr. Hanus' successful defense of clients, Elizabeth & John Keathley. The Courtroom has also been turned into a feature film and was recently chosen as an Official Selection of the Tribeca Film Festival. See the trailer here.
Practice areas
Immigration: Consumer, Immigration: Business- 50% Immigration: Consumer
- 50% Immigration: Business
First Admitted: 1988, Illinois
Professional Webpage: https://www.usavisacounsel.com/about-us
- Fraud Detection/National Security and its Impact on Issuance of Immigration Benefits, American Immigration Lawyers Association’s 2012 Midwest Regional Conference at Chicago Hilton and Towers, March 16, 2012
- Participated in panel discussion following a performance of The Courtroom, the Off Broadway play featuring my client's fight against deportation, including my role as defense counsel, Panel Lecturer, The Courtroom: Performance and Conversation, FOLCS: Forum on Life, Culture & Society, Lawyers And General Public, 2019
- Presented continuing legal education seminar for the divorce and family law bar on immigration law basics and best practices , Lecturer/Instructor, What Every Family Lawyer Should Know About Immigration Law, Decalogue Society, Divorce, Family Law Attorneys, 2019
- Presented Continuing Legal Education Seminar to fellow immigration lawyers on best practices , Panel Lecturer, Strategies & Best Practices in an Enforcement Centered Era: District Office Hot Topics, American Immigration Lawyers Association, Immigration Lawyers, 2018
- Presented continuing legal education program on immigration law basics for criminal and traffic defense attorneys, Lecturer/Instructor, Criminal & Traffic Charges: Immigration Consequences for Non-US Citizens Including Undocumented Defendants, Northwest Suburban Bar Association, Criminal Law Attorneys, 2018
- “Removal for Experts“, Nationwide Teleconference, March 19, 2009
- “Immigration Issues in Family Law“, Chicago Volunteer Legal Services Headquarters, January 27, 2009
- “Common Pitfalls Encountered by Immigration and Criminal Law Practitioners When Representing Non-U.S. Citizens”, Chicago Bar Association, February 4, 2010
- “Affidavits of Support, Government Benefits, Tax Issues and Social Security Benefits”, American Immigration Lawyers Association’s Annual Midwest Regional Conference, Chicago, Illinois, April 9, 2010
- Representation of Victims of Crimes and Domestic Violence in the Immigration Law Context, Chicago Bar Association, January 13, 2011
- American Immigration Lawyers Association’s 2011 Annual Midwest Regional Conference at Chicago Hilton and Towers, March 28, 2011
- “What Every Criminal Lawyer Should Know About Immigration Law”, DuPage County (IL) Bar Association, November 21, 2014
- “What Every Divorce Lawyer Should Know About Immigration Law”, Chicago Bar Association, June 6, 2012
- Marriage Based Potpourri, including U visas, False Claims to Citizenship and Unlawful Voting/Registration, American Immigration Lawyers Association’s 2013 Midwest Regional Conference at Chicago Hilton and Towers, March 15, 2013
- Guest Lecturer, Small Firm Practice, University of Illinois College of Law, March 29, 2013
- “Ethics, Pro Bono and Immigration Workshops” for American Immigration Lawyers Association’s Chicago Chapter’s 2013 Ethics/Client Relations in Immigration, Continuing Legal Education Seminar, Chicago Bar Association, May 17, 2013
- “Child Status Protection Act – How It Can Help Keep Immigrant Families Intact”, Chicago Bar Association’s “Meeting the Needs of Children Under the Immigration Laws” Continuing Legal Education Seminar, January 14, 2014
- “What Every Criminal Lawyer Should Know About Immigration Law”, Chicago Bar Association, May 7, 2014
- “Immigration Law Basics, and its Intersection with Corporate and Labor Law”, McHenry County (IL) Bar Association, June 10, 2014
- Criminal & Traffic Charges: Immigration Consequences for Non-US Citizens, Including Undocumented Defendants, Northwest Suburban Bar Association, Arlington Heights, Illinois, September 27, 2018
- Waivers of Inadmissibility - Fraud and Misrepresentation, Chicago Bar Association, January 13, 2015
- “Avoiding Lawsuits: Hot Topics in Business Immigration Ethics”, American Immigration Lawyers Association’s Chicago Chapter’s 2015 Fall Business Immigration, Continuing Legal Education Seminar, October 16, 2015
- “Current Trends in Naturalization”, Chicago Chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, January 11, 2016
- “You’re Not as Far from U.S. District Court as you May Think – A Bird’s Eye View of the Options and Strategies”, American Immigration Lawyers Association Annual Midwest Regional Conference, March 14, 2016
- “Best Practices in Consular Advocacy”, Chicago Bar Association, January 19, 2017
- “Advanced Naturalization”, American Immigration Lawyers Association Annual Midwest Regional Conference, March 13, 2017
- Writer/OpEd, How This Immigration Lawyer Learned to Love Voter I.D., Wall Street Journal
- “How This Immigration Lawyer Learned to Love Voter I.D.”, Wall Street Journal, May 4-5, 2013
- Immigration Law Issues and Developments for Continuing Legal/Professional Education Programs, National Association of Social Workers, Lecturer
- Immigration Law Issues and Developments for Continuing Legal/Professional Education Programs, Chicago Volunteer Legal Services, Lecturer
- Immigration Law Issues and Developments for Continuing Legal/Professional Education Programs, Chicago Bar Association, Lecturer
- Immigration Law Issues and Developments for Continuing Legal/Professional Education Programs, American Immigration Law Association, Lecturer
- Fitzpatrick v. Sessions, 847 F.3d 913 (7th Cir. 2017)
- Keathley v. Holder, 696 F.3d 644 (7th Cir. 2012)
- Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, B.S., Major: Communication Studies/Philosophy, 1985
- U.S. District Court Northern District of Illinois
- American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), Past Co-Chair of local chapter’s Liaison Committee with Chicago’s Department of Homeland Security / Citizenship and Immigration Service District Director’s Office
- American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), Co-Chair of Chicago Chapter’s Liaison Committee with Illinois Secretary of State Office’s Department of Motor Vehicles
- Decalogue Society, Chicago Member
- U.S. Court of Appeals 8th Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals 7th Circuit
- American Immigration Lawyers Association
- U.S. Court of Appeals 6th Circuit
- Supreme Court of Illinois, 1988
- U.S. Supreme Court
- The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) Chicago Chapter honored Richard Hanus, on June 14, 2022, by presenting him with the “Minsky Beacon of Light Award.” The Beacon of Light Award is presented annually to an attorney who stands out in their dedication to the advancement of the field of immigration law and as an outstanding mentor to fellow immigration lawyers. AILA chose Richard Hanus for the honor for his leadership as a mentor and advocate as well as for his roles heading up AILA governmental liaison committees, including with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Citizenship and Immigration Services Chicago Field Office and State of Illinois’ Secretary of State’s Motor Vehicle Division. This award is also an acknowledgement of Richard’s strong commitments to the practice of immigration law and immigration law education, as a regular lecturer at national and local legal conferences., Minsky Beacon of Light Award, American Immigration Lawyers Association, 2022
- Super Lawyer, Immigration Law, Super Lawyer Magazine, 2007-2008, 2014-2018, 2019
- Received Chicago Volunteer Legal Services Distinguished Service Award in 1990 and 2006., Chicago Volunteer Legal Services, 1990
- North Suburban Legal Aid Clinic - U visa legal assistance and advice for victims of the July 4, 2022 Highland Park shooting , 2022
- 1990 to the present : Pro Bono/Chicago Volunteer Legal Services/AILA Clinic, Past Co-Chair, 2023
- 1990 to present - Chicago Volunteer Legal Services, volunteer attorney. ARK Chicago legal aid clinic, volunteer attorney. ARK Chicago - Board of Directors - 2003 through present, including services as President and Chairman of Board 2010 - present., 1990
- American Immigration Lawyers Association
- Chicago Volunteer Legal Services
Office location for Richard Hanus
161 North Clark Street
Suite 2500
Chicago, IL 60601
Phone: 312-357-0033
Selections
- Super Lawyers: 2007 - 2008, 2014 - 2024
