Why Joy Might Be The Most Important Tool Lawyers Have Right Now

My lawyer friends, I’m back.

Back with a regular column to talk about immigration issues that may be keeping us in utter dismay.

But before we dive into policy, chaos, and the latest developments, I want to talk about something else, something that has become essential to my survival in this profession.

I have one word for you: joy.

You may recall my 2022 piece, where I first shared my love of bird photography. At the time, it was a newer discovery. Today, I can say with utmost conviction that I am a bird and wildlife photographer. I have traveled far and wide in pursuit of birds, turning school breaks, family vacations, and even work conferences into birding expeditions. I have taken solo trips — just to see birds — something I never would have imagined doing before. And the transformation has been profound.

Here is what I have discovered along the way:

It gave me adventure.
I have traveled far and wide in search of birds. I’ve flown to Alaska for a single day to see a rare white raven — and miraculously, I found it. I’ve driven alone through rural Nebraska in pursuit of the Sandhill Crane migration, where hundreds of thousands of birds descend on the Platte River. I navigated New Mexico to witness the breathtaking spectacle of cranes and snow geese in flight. I’ve chased puffins along the rugged coast of Maine, despite canceled flights, missed connections, and plans that refused to cooperate.

I ventured deep into Bali Barat National Park, far from the postcard version of Bali, just for a chance to see the elusive Bali myna, found only in that region. In Vietnam, I was fortunate to encounter the critically endangered Delacour’s langur, one of only about 200 remaining, in a remote and hauntingly beautiful nature preserve.

And there are many more such stories.

Somewhere along the way, “adventure” became part of who I am.

It unlocked creativity.
Before bird photography, I never thought of myself as a “creative.” I didn’t consider my extensive body of writing as creative. Bird photography changed that. It took time, years, in fact, to fully embrace the title of “bird photographer.” Now, I feel a quiet thrill when I am introduced at conferences and events as an “immigration lawyer and bird photographer.”

Even more surprising: creativity begets creativity.

What started with photography has expanded into a series of coloring books. It was inspired after I created my journal Finding Joy to help my friends and community discover their version of birding. Now, I have eight coloring books in the series and many more to come. I have even been commissioned to create an exclusive coloring book for an organization! And while juggling everything else, I am preparing for my first ever photo exhibition later this year (you are invited).

Unexpected opportunities.

My enthusiasm for this hobby seems to have traveled further than I ever realized. So, when, out of the blue, I was invited to join the board of the American Birding Association, I didn’t hesitate to say yes. It’s a role I wear with deep pride. If you are even remotely interested in birds, you may find this organization incredibly helpful!

It built bravery.
I was a timid child. I sought permission, reassurance, and certainty. I didn’t even drive until I moved to the United States after marriage. Today, driving represents freedom. It has taken me through the rolling hills of New Mexico and the cornfields of Nebraska in pursuit of birds. I’ve tackled New Jersey’s fast-paced highways where missing an exit can cost you 30 minutes and a sunrise (ask me how I know).

And yet, each time I got behind the wheel to see birds, I felt something new: courage.

Most importantly, it gave me a way to cope.
Practicing immigration law right now is hard. In fact, it is harder than ever. Every case presents new, unpredictable challenges. My listservs and forums are filled almost daily with colleagues sharing thoughts of leaving the profession, struggling with health issues, and other heartbreaking realities. As lawyers, we are conditioned to carry the weight of our cases.

Birding gave me a counterbalance.

It taught me what joy actually feels like — light, expansive, and grounding. And now, I can recognize stress more clearly. Even when I can’t get outside, looking at my photos brings me back: the crisp air, the stillness, the movement of wings.

That shift has made me more resilient.

I’m sharing this because I know I’m not alone. Lawyers everywhere are feeling the erosion of the rule of law and due process. Who could have imagined that our profession, as a whole, would come under such pressure?

So yes, I’ll be back here regularly to break down the immigration issues impacting my clients and communities.

But alongside that, I’m going to keep making the case for something we don’t talk about nearly enough, lawyer or not:

You need joy.

Not as a luxury. Not as an afterthought. But as a strategy.

Find your version of it. Protect it. Invest in it.

Because in times like these, it may be the very thing that sustains you.

And perhaps more importantly, it may be what allows you to keep showing up for everyone who depends on you.

(P.S. If you see me in person anywhere, ask me about my Joy Parties!)

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Tahmina Watson is the founding attorney of Watson Immigration Law in Seattle, where she practices US immigration law focusing on business immigration. She has been blogging about immigration law since 2008 and has written numerous articles in many publications. She is the author of Legal Heroes in the Trump Era: Be Inspired. Expand Your Impact. Change the World and The Startup Visa: Key to Job Growth and Economic Prosperity in America.  She is also the founder of The Washington Immigrant Defense Network (WIDEN), which funds and facilitates legal representation in the immigration courtroom, and co-founder of Airport Lawyers, which provided critical services during the early travel bans. Tahmina is regularly quoted in the media and is the host of the podcast Tahmina Talks Immigration. She is a Puget Sound Business Journal 2020 Women of Influence honoree.  Business Insider recently named her as one of the top immigration attorneys in the U.S. that help tech startups. You can reach her by email at [email protected], connect with her on LinkedIn or follow her on Twitter at @tahminawatson.