Dedicated and respected attorney Sylvia A. Miller of Seattle, Washington, has secured more than two successful decades of experience working hard in the law and stands poised and energized to offer many more for her clients—as if she were getting started all over again. An active member of the Washington State Bar Association, Phi Delta Phi, and the American Immigration Lawyers Association, Ms. Miller is the trusted sole attorney and proprietor of her eponymous firm, Sylvia A. Miller, Attorney at Law, PLLC.
Ms. Miller expertly offers her clients legal advice in the complex area of immigration law and represents immigrants applying for legal permanent residence through various avenues, including family relations, self-petitions for victims of domestic violence, petitions for removal of condition on residence, applications for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, and applications for waivers. Ms. Miller helps her clients navigate the system of immigrant visa processing and achieve United States citizenship. Initially, she focused her legal career on human rights law but quickly realized that she would have to move to New York or to San Francisco, California, to advance her career in the specialty. Not wanting to abandon her roots in the state of Washington, she shifted her focus to immigration law and found a job as an immigration attorney, solidifying her place in that arena.
Ms. Miller began her higher education at the University of Washington, where she focused on Latin American studies at the Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies. After graduating from the university with a Bachelor of Arts in 1994, she completed additional coursework at the Marshall-Wythe School of Law at the College of William & Mary before matriculating at the Seattle University School of Law, earning her Doctor of Jurisprudence in 2003, graduating magna cum laude.
Ms. Miller then gained experience as a clerk extern with the King County Superior Court under the Hon. Bruce Hilyer, worked as a research assistant during law school, and was the chapter president of Amnesty International, a global non-governmental organization advocating for human rights. She was also named to the Dean’s List and served as the founding co-director of the Seattle University School of Law’s Center for Human Rights and Justice. Upon exiting academia, Ms. Miller secured a job as a summer associate with Forsberg & Umlauf, PS, later excelling as an attorney with the Choquette Law Group, PS, from 2004 to 2006. After taking time away from the law to give birth to her daughter, Isabella, she returned to active practice and launched her firm in 2008, where she has thrived serving her clients ever since.
Among her myriad professional achievements, Ms. Miller considers making a difference in the lives of her clients to be her most notable success. Due to her immeasurable work and dedication, hundreds of her clients have secured permanent residence in the United States, including receiving green cards, becoming United States citizens, or achieving protection under DACA. Ms. Miller is especially proud to have helped many victims of domestic violence escape their situations and achieve permanent residence. Since launching her firm, she has realized the immense value of striking out independently. She advises burgeoning legal professionals, especially mothers with years of experience in the field, to overcome their fears and try to become and succeed as independent attorneys. Ms. Miller stresses that it is better to try and fail than to never make the attempt.
Looking ahead, Ms. Miller intends to see her firm continue to grow. She is excited to reach more clients and help many more immigrants achieve their dreams in the United States. Drawing on her prior experience in human rights law, workers’ compensation, and civil service, she enjoys taking on pro bono work for nonprofit organizations when she can. Ms. Miller attributes her success to her education as well as the support of her family and friends. When she is not busy providing high-quality legal representation and advocating for her clients, she enjoys spending time with her loved ones and gardening.