Today we’d like to introduce you to Albany Rojas Carrero
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I am a Venezuelan lawyer with 8 years of experience in my country. I emigrated in 2016 with a newborn baby. My first jobs in the United States were as a cleaner, waitress, nanny, and children’s party entertainer. I entered the legal sector in entry-level positions, performing tasks such as making copies and coffee. Over time and with effort, I became an expert paralegal, leading a work team.
I began my law studies in the prestigious Juris Doctor program at Nova Southeastern University, where I received a scholarship based on my academic performance and a grant for my community service. I graduated ahead of schedule and, after preparing for the Florida Bar Exam, I passed on my first attempt, defying the statistics.
As an attorney admitted by the Florida State Supreme Court, I worked at the renowned non-profit organization, Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County, in the Medical Legal Partnership project. There, as an immigration attorney, I provided free legal assistance to patients who could not obtain medical care due to their immigration status.
Now, I have founded my own firm, Rojas Law Office, where we offer legal assistance to immigrants throughout the United States, standing out for our empathy, responsibility, and efficiency.
I feel a deep responsibility to share my knowledge about how to become lawyers in the United States as foreign-trained lawyers. Additionally, I am passionate about explaining the wide range of legal professions and how to access them. For this reason, I have created the ¨Volviendo a la Ley¨ or “Back to the Law” program and dedicate myself to mentoring foreign lawyers and professionals who desire legal careers.
I am a member of the Board of Directors of the Hispanic Bar Association of Palm Beach County, where we foster connections between Hispanic lawyers, paralegals, and judges, and organize constant community service days.
Finally, I remain a woman, mother, and wife, and I share in “Podemos ser las Dos” the constant search for balance between being a professional mother who loves both motherhood and her career.
It is an honor to serve my community and I am deeply grateful for the trust placed in me. Thank you for allowing me to be part of your journey.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Migratory grief was my first major challenge. Fleeing my country unexpectedly, losing everything, and facing the reality of starting over in a foreign country with no time to process the pain was devastating. To this grief was added motherhood, a wonderful experience that, however, forced me to find a balance between my career and my role as a mother. Despite criticism and societal expectations, I decided to continue growing professionally.
Learning a new language, adapting to a different culture, and overcoming legal obstacles were additional challenges. As a Latina woman, I also faced racism and sexism, especially when trying to enter the world of law, a profession dominated by white men.
Motherhood taught me that a woman’s strength lies in her ability to defy expectations and build her own path. Being a mother and a professional are not mutually exclusive roles, but complementary. It is time for society to recognize and value the efforts of women who strive to balance both aspects of their lives.
I feel a responsibility to contribute to creating a world where every woman has the freedom to be whoever she wants to be, regardless of obstacles.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Rojas Law Office / Volviendo a la Ley?
I own two businesses, each focused on helping immigrants succeed in the U.S.
The first is my immigration law practice, Rojas Law Office. We specialize in humanitarian visas, business visas, removal defense, and family petitions. At Rojas Law Office, our core values are empathy, responsibility, and trust. As immigrant attorneys ourselves, we understand the challenges our clients face, and we are committed to providing not only high-quality legal services but also compassionate and culturally aware support. Since we speak Spanish and share the cultural background of many of our clients, we can offer a more personalized experience that truly resonates with the Latino community.
My second business, Volviendo a la Ley—or Back to the Law—is a mentorship and career coaching program. We help foreign attorneys navigate the process of becoming lawyers in the U.S., and we guide immigrants into other legal careers, such as paralegals, interpreters, and court reporters. We’re currently entering our fourth cycle of our flagship three-month mentorship program for foreign attorneys who are looking to get into U.S. law schools. We’re thrilled to report that many participants from our summer 2023 program are now in law school, on their way to becoming attorneys. It’s incredibly rewarding to see our mentees succeed, and we take pride in being part of their journey.
Both businesses reflect my passion for empowering immigrants to thrive professionally and personally in the U.S., whether through legal representation or mentorship.
Do you any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
I remember My grandmother when she read to me every afternoon in her house’s garden. After homework, I would take a shower and get ready and we would sit to read on the porch that she had roses and was very pretty, the book of the tales of the Grimm brothers while my mom arrived from work. I would concentrate on the story and suddenly I would hear my mom arrive.
Contact Info:
Image Credits
Andrea Cifuentes @andetaphotography on instagram.
