About First Class Immigration

First Class Immigration is a full-service immigration law practice in Franklin, just south of Nashville. Founding attorney Michael Smallbone has spent more than 15 years helping immigrants, their families, and the businesses that employ them through the U.S. immigration system.

Michael Smallbone, Founder and Attorney

Michael Smallbone’s commitment to immigration law is personal. Born in Sydney, Australia, he lived on Australia’s East Coast before moving to the United States as a student. His own immigration journey included H-1 visas and other nonimmigrant statuses, adjustment of status through the Memphis immigration office, and, ultimately, becoming a proud U.S. citizen in 2008.

Having navigated that process himself, Michael Smallbone understands the uncertainty, frustration, and hope that come with building a life in a new country. He brings that perspective to his practice, helping clients understand their options and move forward with clear guidance and honest, reliable representation.

Before becoming an attorney, Michael Smallbone worked in talent management and served as Vice President at Premiere Speakers Bureau. His immigration experience opened his eyes to the need for trusted legal representation. Before and during law school, he worked as a paralegal at a Nashville immigration firm, gaining practical experience that laid the foundation for his legal career.

Michael Smallbone has practiced immigration law since 2008, helping clients navigate a process he knows firsthand. He also serves as an Adjunct Professor at Nashville School of Law, where he teaches Immigration Law. Whether advising a client or teaching future attorneys, he brings a personal understanding of what is at stake for the people behind each case.

Education

• Nashville School of Law, Juris Doctor, 2008
• Griffith University, Queensland, Australia, B.A. in Marketing and Management, 2000

Bar and professional memberships

• American Immigration Lawyers Association
• Tennessee Bar Association
• American Bar Association

How we work

Our boutique practice means your case gets personal attention. We learn your goals, explain the options in plain English, and build a strategy for your situation. Most services are offered for a flat fee, so there are no surprise monthly bills.

What we handle

Where we work

Our office is at 3326 Aspen Grove Drive, Building B, Suite 260, Franklin, Tennessee 37067. We serve clients in Nashville, Franklin, Brentwood, Murfreesboro, and across Middle Tennessee in person, and clients across the U.S. and abroad by phone and video. Immigration law is federal, so we represent clients before USCIS, the immigration courts, and U.S. consulates wherever the case is.