Lawyers & Staff

Dedicated Exclusively to Immigration Law

Lawyers & Staff

BRIAN AUST

Partner

Brian Aust has been a practicing attorney for more than 20 years. He graduated from Hamline University School of Law in St. Paul in May 2000 and was admitted to the Minnesota State Bar in October 2000. He is also admitted to practice before the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals and the Federal District Court of Minnesota.

Brian works on all types of immigration cases. He represents individuals in family based immigration matters (marriage cases, fiancé(e) and other petitions), people applying for asylum and naturalization. Brian also has a special interest in representing GLBT clients.

Malinda Schmiechen

Partner

For over twenty years, Malinda has been dedicated to improving the lives of people born outside the United States. Malinda understands the stress and strain of living outside your home country and traveling abroad. She has lived in the former Yugoslavia and Poland and has visited countries in Africa, Central America, Asia and Europe.

Prior to going into private practice, Malinda was a staff attorney with The Advocates for Human Rights in the Refugee and Immigrant Program.

Mrynna Rutan

Attorney

Mrynna Rutan began working in the immigration field in 2019 when she assisted clients in expedited removal proceedings who were detained in the Karnes Detention Center in Texas. There she helped prepare clients for credible and reasonable fear interviews before the Asylum Office and appeals before the Immigration Court. In law school, she was an executive board member of the Asylum Law Project, where she helped partner students with nonprofit organizations to assist in humanitarian applications.

Helen Johnson

Case Manager

Helen Johnson graduated from Vassar College in 2021 with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science, Hispanic Studies, and Music Performance. Helen spent her time as a student studying the various ways in which the laws of the United States work against immigrants and people of color, which led her to become interested in immigration law and criminal defense.

Grace Riegel

Paralegal

Grace Riegel graduated from Macalester College in 2023 with a Bachelor’s degree in International Studies and Russian Studies. Grace studied abroad in Moldova, where she saw how international events affect the day-to-day lives of people living through them.

Nasteha Ahmed

Paralegal

Nasteha Ahmed graduated from the University of St. Thomas in 2024 with a bachelor’s degree in History and a minor in Psychology. Nasteha dedicated her time studying to uncover and amplify the stories of marginalized voices throughout history.

Jessica McAllister

Paralegal

Jessica McAllister graduated from Macalester College in 2024 with a Bachelor’s degree in Classical Mediterranean and Middle Eastern Studies and a minor in Art History. Jessica studied the ways in which art and material culture inform our understanding of the world today.

Evan Chung

Paralegal

Evan Chung graduated from Macalester College in 2024 with a Bachelor’s degree in Asian Studies. He has lived in countries such as Mexico and Brazil and made friends with people who were struggling due to unsafe living conditions.

Amy Bystrom Micek

Immigration Paralegal

Amy Bystrom Micek has been an immigration paralegal for over 20 years. Amy is inspired daily by the determination and strength shown by clients as she supports them in family reunification through One Steps, Adjustments, and Consular Processing or finding safety in the U.S. through Asylum or Temporary Protected Status.

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