---
title: "How I Got Here: Paul Leahy"
id: "39088"
type: "post"
slug: "how-i-got-here-paul-leahy-2"
published_at: "2017-08-01T07:20:36+00:00"
modified_at: "2026-03-16T20:00:51+00:00"
url: "https://associationsnow.com/2017/08/01/how-i-got-here-paul-leahy-2/"
markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2017/08/01/how-i-got-here-paul-leahy-2.md"
excerpt: "Paul Leahy, the associate director of membership and component relations at the American Immigration Lawyers Association, got into associations straight out of college."
taxonomy_category:
  - "Career Development"
taxonomy_post_tag:
  - "AssociationsNow"
  - "Business"
  - "careers"
  - "NextGen"
  - "Professional Development"
taxonomy_content_format:
  - "Article"
taxonomy_role:
  - "Employee (Non-Manager)"
  - "Manager"
taxonomy_persona:
  - "Early Career"
---

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 » How I Got Here: Paul Leahy

It’s not common for people to graduate from college and immediately go to work for an association. But that’s what Paul Leahy did after finishing up at James Madison University. And now he’s at his second association—the American Immigration Lawyers Association—and in his fifth job role as associate director of membership and component relations. Here’s a look at his 11-year association career:

“Just because you’re a young professional doesn’t mean you don’t have as much to offer as the baby boomer sitting next to you.”

### A Working History

**2006-2007:** Constituent Organization Services Assistant at American Academy of Physician Assistants

**2007-2008:** Constituent Organization Management Solutions Manager at American Academy of Physician Assistants

**2008-2010:** Member Outreach Associate at American Immigration Lawyers Association

**2011-2013:** Component Relations Manager at American Immigration Lawyers Association

**2013 -:** Associate Director of Membership and Component Relations at American Immigration Lawyers Association

(Handout photo)

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Tags: [#Business](https://associationsnow.com/tag/business/)
 [#careers](https://associationsnow.com/tag/careers/)
 [#NextGen](https://associationsnow.com/tag/nextgen/)
 [#Professional Development](https://associationsnow.com/tag/professional-development/)

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