---
title: "How I Got Here: Paul Leahy"
id: "10592"
type: "post"
slug: "how-i-got-here-paul-leahy"
published_at: "2017-09-08T04:00:00+00:00"
modified_at: "2026-03-15T02:49:06+00:00"
url: "https://associationsnow.com/2017/09/08/how-i-got-here-paul-leahy/"
markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2017/09/08/how-i-got-here-paul-leahy.md"
excerpt: "Paul Leahy Associate Director of Membership and Component Relations American Immigration Lawyers Association Washington, DC 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..."
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  - "Career Development"
taxonomy_post_tag:
  - "ASAEcenter"
  - "AssociationsNow"
  - "careers"
  - "New to Associations"
  - "Professional Development"
taxonomy_content_format:
  - "Article"
taxonomy_role:
  - "Director"
taxonomy_persona:
  - "Early Career"
---

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 » How I Got Here: Paul Leahy

**Paul Leahy**  
 Associate Director of Membership and Component Relations  
 American Immigration Lawyers Association  
 Washington, DC

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.—Paul Leahy, American Immigration Lawyers Association

**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

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