Kayla C. Hoel

Kayla advises clients navigating the complexities of Immigration Law.

Kayla is an Immigration attorney, offering clients strategic support and valuable insights regarding a variety of immigration matters. Kayla’s practice includes employment (with a focus on physicians, healthcare and investment matters), family and humanitarian based immigration. She has experience working with both corporate and individual clients managing the complexities of the U.S. immigration system.

Prior to joining Fredrikson, Kayla aided the firm's Immigration Group as a legal clerk, served as a legal intern for the judges of the Bloomington Immigration Court, and worked as a research assistant at the University of Minnesota Law School, exploring the intersection of asylum and constitutional law in a global context. Kayla also gained hands-on experience and acumen as a student attorney in the James H. Binger Center for New Americans Federal Immigration Litigation Clinic, arguing cases before the Sixth and Eighth Circuit Courts of Appeals.

Before joining the legal profession, Kayla worked in finance for a Fortune 200 company, supporting their marketing, sales, supply chain, corporate and global internal audit functions. This financial background allows Kayla to nimbly assist clients with financial complexities that may arise within their immigration case.

Kayla and her team won the landmark case Jasso Arangure v. Whitaker in the Sixth Circuit. This precedential decision holds that the legal principle of res judicata applies in immigration courts. With this decision in place, the government cannot subject immigrants in the Sixth Circuit to relitigation of immigration issues once there has been a final decision on the merits.

Education

• University of Minnesota Law School, J.D., 2019, magna cum laude
• St. Olaf College, B.A., 2010, magna cum laude

Admissions

• Minnesota, 2019

Clerkships

• Legal Intern, Bloomington Immigration Court, 2017
• Volunteer Law Clerk, Asylum Law Project, Northwest Immigrant Right’s Project, 2017

• Order of the Coif
• North Star Lawyer, Minnesota State Bar Association, 2019, 2022
• CLE Scholarship & Leadership Award, American Law Institute, 2019
• Tax Law Book Award, 2019
• Transitional Justice Book Award, 2019
• Immigration Law Book Award, 2017
• Robina Public Interest Scholar
• Omicron Delta Epsilon, 2010

Professional Activities

• AILA MNDAK Bylaws Revision Committee, 2023-2025
• Minnesota Law Review, Managing Editor, 2018-2019; Staff Member, 2017-2018
• James H. Binger Center for New Americans Federal Immigration Litigation Clinic, Student Director, 2018-2019; Student Attorney, 2017-2018
• University of Minnesota Law School, Research Assistant for Professor Stephen Meili, 2018-2019
• Woman’s Law Student Association, Treasurer, 2017-2019

Community

• Claridge Condominium Homeowner’s Association, Secretary, 2017-2018
• Lake of the Isles Lutheran Church, Worship & Music Committee Chair, 2016-2019
• Lake of the Isles Lutheran Church, Confirmation Leader, 2013-2019