“Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!” – Quote inscribed on the Statute of Liberty, as taken from the poem, The New Colossus by Emma Lazarus.
This month’s “More than a Lawyer” spotlight features Paul Saluja, a West Virginia attorney that champions underdogs—whether it’s an immigrant family seeking safety, an international student navigating complex legal terrain, or a local cultural organization serving the community.
Since founding Saluja Law in 2011, Paul’s practice has focused on immigration law. The ever-changing landscape of immigration policy has only deepened his commitment to helping overlooked or marginalized persons. In 2022, following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Paul began offering pro bono representation to Ukrainian families seeking asylum. With the asylum process often stretching from months to years, Paul provides long-term, hands-on support to clients as they navigate one of the most difficult legal paths in the U.S. His dedication was recently rewarded when he secured West Virginia’s first asylum grant for a Ukrainian family.
Paul’s passion for immigration advocacy extends beyond the courtroom. In 2019, he spent two months volunteering to help reduce a growing backlog of asylum cases in the Southwest. Despite the increasingly complex and restrictive nature of asylum law, Paul believes helping individuals lawfully establish their place in the United States ultimately strengthens the broader community.
Born in India, Paul moved to West Virginia as a child when his father came to study and teach at WVU. His family became active members of the Kanawha Valley’s Indian cultural community, helping establish the India Center at Southridge. Today, Paul and his family remain life members of the center, which serves as a space for West Virginia’s Indian community to gather and celebrate shared traditions.
Paul also brings his commitment to inclusion and advocacy to the growing field of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) opportunities for student-athletes. As international students face complicated visa challenges when entering commercial agreements, Paul has helped athletes understand their rights and avoid jeopardizing their immigration status. He recently assisted former WVU basketball star Jesse Edwards secure his green card and negotiate an NIL agreement, which support Edwards publicly acknowledged on social media.
Paul believes NIL can help West Virginia attract and retain athletic talent, and he advocates for state policies allowing high school athletes to benefit from their personal brands, especially as neighboring states adopt such laws. For Paul, it’s another way to help the community compete and thrive on a larger stage.
Whether advocating for immigrants, mentoring student-athletes, or advancing cultural initiatives, Paul brings heart and skill to his work, along with his unshakable belief in the value of lifting others up. Sometimes the underdog is his client—and sometimes it’s the community itself—but either way, Paul Saluja pulls in the same direction, making him “More Than a Lawyer.”
Paul was nominated by Arie Spitz, Esq.
