A Boutique Law Firm Fighting For Everyday People
Biography
Derek A. DeCosmo is the founding and managing Partner of DeCosmo Law. Since 2005, Derek has guided clients through the maze of immigration law. Derek is experienced, responsive, and driven by results. Derek has successfully represented thousands of immigrant clients, whether they've been in deportation proceedings or in their applications for immigration benefits. Derek has handled every type of immigration case. Derek has extensive experience advising clients on the immigration consequences of criminal convictions and in defending immigrant clients charged with crimes.
Derek created and developed a course on the interplay between criminal and immigration law, which he has been teaching at Rutgers School of Law since 2016. Derek is the lead author of the Guide to Immigration Consequences for Criminal Defendants in New Jersey. Derek previously served as Chair of the New Jersey Chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, and he currently serves as Co-Chair of the Immigration Section of the Camden County Bar Association. Derek has offices in Camden, Trenton and Pleasantville, New Jersey.
When not in a courtroom or teaching other lawyers and law students, Derek is passionate about donating his time to charitable causes and giving back to the community. He hosts lectures at various churches and organizations to inform the community of their legal rights. Derek has partnered with NJ Reentry Corporation Espíritu Latino (Latin Spirit), to provide legal services for Latinos and Latinas returning from the prison system. In addition, Derek collaborates with the Mexican Consulate of Philadelphia in different capacities. He participates as legal service provider in the PALE program (External Legal Assistance Program) and he gives informative talks at the Consulate on legal matters that affect Mexican nationals residing in this region. As a native of Burlington County, Derek knew from the start that serving the communities of South Jersey would be central to his practice.
Derek created and developed a course on the interplay between criminal and immigration law, which he has been teaching at Rutgers School of Law since 2016. Derek is the lead author of the Guide to Immigration Consequences for Criminal Defendants in New Jersey. Derek previously served as Chair of the New Jersey Chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, and he currently serves as Co-Chair of the Immigration Section of the Camden County Bar Association. Derek has offices in Camden, Trenton and Pleasantville, New Jersey.
When not in a courtroom or teaching other lawyers and law students, Derek is passionate about donating his time to charitable causes and giving back to the community. He hosts lectures at various churches and organizations to inform the community of their legal rights. Derek has partnered with NJ Reentry Corporation Espíritu Latino (Latin Spirit), to provide legal services for Latinos and Latinas returning from the prison system. In addition, Derek collaborates with the Mexican Consulate of Philadelphia in different capacities. He participates as legal service provider in the PALE program (External Legal Assistance Program) and he gives informative talks at the Consulate on legal matters that affect Mexican nationals residing in this region. As a native of Burlington County, Derek knew from the start that serving the communities of South Jersey would be central to his practice.
Practice Areas
- Immigration Law
- Criminal Defense
Bar Admission
- New Jersey
- Pennsylvania
- U.S. District Court District of New Jersey
- U.S. Court of Appeals 3rd Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals 9th Circuit
Education
- Rutgers School of Law - Camden, Camden, New Jersey
- J.D. - 2005
- Albright College
- B.A. - 2001
- Major: Communications
- Major: History
Publications & Seminars
- Author, Guide to Immigration Consequences for Criminal Defendants in New Jersey, Published by Rutgers School of Law December 2021
- Co-Author, Impact of Marijuana Legalization in Criminal and Immigration Law, The Barrister, March 2021
- Presented CLE course to the Camden County Bar Association on—“Everything a criminal defense attorney needs to know when representing a noncitizen client.”, , 2018 to Present
- Author, New Hope in Deportation Defense During a Time of Otherwise Great Uncertainty, The Barrister 2016
- Presented CLE course to the NJ Chapter of the Federal Bar Association on - “Immigration Executive Orders and Deferred Action.”, 2015 to Present
- Presented CLE course during the Camden County Bar Association’s Black Letter Blast on Criminal Law on – “Immigration Consequences of Criminal Activity.”, 2015 to Present
- Presented CLE for the Camden County Bar on – “Avoiding Ineffective Assistance of Counsel Claims, a New Jersey Defense Attorney’s Guide to Representing Non-Citizen Clients.”, 2014 to Present
- Presented CLE for the Mercer County Bar Association on “Immigration Issues in Family Law.”, 2012 to Present
- Co-Author, Understanding the Immigration Impact of Your Clients Case Before You Resolve It, The Barrister, March 2011
- Presented to the Rutgers School of Law on “Impact of SB 1070, Arizona’s Anti-Immigration Law”, 2011 to Present
- Presented to the Rutgers School of Law on “Immigration Law and Politics”, 2010 to Present
- Presented, Immigration Law: What Every Attorney Should Know, New Jersey State Bar Association, 2017-Present
Professional Associations and Memberships
- American Immigration Lawyers Association (“AILA”) - New Jersey Chapter, Chairman
- NJ Chapter of AILA, Chairman
- PA Chapter of AILA
- Camden County Bar Association, Immigration Committee, Chair, 2017 to Present
Achievements
Other Sources of Feedback About Derek A. DeCosmo
Included on the 2021 New Jersey list
Past Lists
- 2018 New Jersey Super Lawyers list
- 2017 New Jersey Super Lawyers list
- 2016 New Jersey Super Lawyers list
- 2015 New Jersey Super Lawyers list
Honors
- Named to the New Jersey Super Lawyers list, 2021
- Selected to New Jersey Super Lawyers Rising Stars list, 2015 – 2019
- Selected to New Jersey Monthly’s Top Attorneys, 2015 – 2021
- Selected to South Jersey Magazine’s Top Attorneys, 2018 – 2020
- AV-Preeminent Rated by Martindale Hubbell, 2015 – 2021
- Top Attorney Rated by AVVO, 2015 – 2021