Working at the intersection of criminal and immigration law - and licensed in both Canada and the US - I provide full- service representation regarding complex refugee, immigration, and criminal matters in both jurisdictions, and across the border.
Services
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If you are applying for temporary or permanent residence in Canada and/or the United States, and you have concerns about how to complete the forms or what documents to provide with your application, I can help guide you through the process. I specialize in sensitive and/or complex applications that may require extra care and attention.
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If you believe that you are facing risk of harm or persecution in your country of nationality, I can help you make a smart choice about how to seek protection in Canada or the United States. If you decide to ask for protection, I will help you navigate the refugee claim process from start to finish, including administrative appeals and judicial review.
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If you have had a visa application refused or you are facing a removal order, I can help you understand the reasons for your inadmissibility, challenge negative decisions, and slow down or stop your deportation.
I formerly worked as a public defender in Minnesota, and I am currently licensed to practice in the state of Washington as well as in British Columbia. I understand how the criminal justice and immigration enforcement systems in both countries work, making me uniquely qualified to assist with inadmissibility arising from criminal charges and/or convictions in one or both jurisdictions.
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I practice at the intersection of criminal defence and immigration law.
If you are a foreign national facing criminal charges in Canada, I will help you defend against the charges and seek a resolution that prioritizes protecting your right to remain in Canada and/or travel to the United States.
Randall K. Cohn
Randall (he/him) is licensed to practice in the states of Minnesota and Washington as well as in British Columbia. He practiced criminal defence at the Hennepin County Public Defender’s Office in Minneapolis for two years before moving to Canada and completing articles with (now the Honourable Mr. Justice) Peter Edelmann at Edelmann & Co. in Vancouver, where he then practiced as an associate from 2019-2024.
In Canada, Randall regularly represents clients before all divisions of the Immigration and Refugee Board, The Federal Court of Canada, and the Provincial and Supreme Courts of British Columbia. He also assists with all kinds of immigration applications and related administrative appeals in both Canada and the United States. His cross-jurisdictional expertise and experience makes him especially well-positioned to help people whose immigration journeys have taken them through the United States on their way to Canada, and those whose criminal records in one or the other country is preventing them from legally crossing the border.
Randall works as immigration duty counsel with Legal Aid BC. He sits on the board at Kinbrace Community Society, and he is the supervising immigration lawyer for the Legal Advocacy Project at MOSAIC. Before turning to the law, he was an outreach worker and later a shelter manager for homeless adults and youth in Minneapolis, and was a co-founder of the Minnesota Harm Reduction Community. He received the 2017 Paul Marino People’s Lawyer Award from the Minnesota chapter of the National Lawyers Guild.
Randall earned his JD with honors from William Mitchell College of Law, proudly attending classes at night while continuing to work full time. He also holds a Master’s degree in International Relations from San Francisco State University and a bachelor of fine arts from New York University.
Notable cases:
Bahredar v. Canada (Citizenship and Immigration) - 2022 FC 1577
Levin v. Canada (Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness) - 2022 FC 1091
How can we help you?
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