Life & Work with Raquel Fernandez

Today we’d like to introduce you to Raquel Fernandez.

Raquel, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My journey to becoming a lawyer began with my parents’ experience as first-generation immigrants. They came to the U.S. from Venezuela in the ’80s and, unfortunately, could not find a pathway to become legal permanent residents for almost 20 years. As a teenager, I remember my parents telling me their case was denied after multiple attempts. I was afraid we would have to uproot our lives and move due to our broken immigration system. This made me passionate towards immigrant rights… human rights! I knew I wanted to become an immigration lawyer to help families like my own. Thankfully, my parents became residents a couple of years later. Then, they became citizens when I was in law school. I remember leaving my Decedents’ Estates class to pick them up after their oath ceremony at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services in Charlotte, NC. I graduated law school in 2016 and started practicing law as an immigration lawyer the following year. There have been some low points where I have felt disappointed in the legal system and how some law firms operate.

I currently feel I have found my place, a place where I can make a difference. My favorite thing about immigration law is getting to connect with people of all walks of life. I love to hear their stories and find creative solutions to their unique issues thanks to the team at our law firm. I have also found a new outlet for my passion, social media. During the pandemic, I downloaded TikTok just for fun. A few months later, my mom encouraged me to share information regarding immigration, even though I was a contractor lawyer at the time. I posted a video regarding the 2020 Supreme Court decision for DACA, which was one of my first viral videos. TikTok has brought visibility to many areas in need. Thanks to the platform, many people, who do not know where to begin with their immigration cases, have been able to contact me for help. I’m humbled and grateful for every opportunity that has come my way thanks to social media, including this very interview!

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Oh, the challenges… I have to start off by saying there are countless deserving, intelligent, and special kids out there who are not afforded the same opportunities as me due to their legal status. It puts my own struggles into perspective. One of my biggest professional struggles was facing imposter syndrome in college and law school, particularly. It was especially difficult because I was told I shouldn’t pursue law countless times. It made me question whether I was good enough. Thankfully, the people who truly mattered, my family, always reminded me I could do it. My mom especially pushed me to go for it. In law school, I had to learn a whole new way of thinking… “thinking like a lawyer.” I also had to learn a whole new way of writing, which is not my strong suit. The first year of law school was nerve-wracking. The socratic method didn’t help one bit.

Once 2L year finally came around, I came into my own a little more. I started to realize that I did deserve to be there. As a minority, I learned we cannot always change how others see us, but we can change how we see ourselves. As a Latina, I didn’t have many Latina lawyer role models to look up to. I’m thrilled to see the percentage of Latina lawyers in the US is growing! We must encourage the Latinas who come after us to raise the 2%. I hope my story inspires other minorities to pursue their dreams even if they don’t see many people who look like them in their fields. My advice is, don’t let the fear of failure stop you from pursuing your dreams. Even if you fail, get back up. You will overcome!

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am an immigration lawyer. I am known for focusing on family-based and humanitarian immigration cases and talking about immigration information and news on social media. I am most proud of not giving up and trying new things, even if I may look silly doing it. What sets me apart from others is I am fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139;14). We are all unique beings with our own purpose in life. My faith has opened my eyes to what I was made to do and follow the path set before me.

We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
The biggest lesson I learned due to the COVID-19 crisis is to cherish your loved ones and all the memories you make together. During the early days of the pandemic, I grew extra nostalgic. I was able to login to my old MySpace even and tried to find old pictures. I binged early 2000s shows and movies with my family. I was ready to get back out and make more memories, but we couldn’t. With that free time, it led me to rekindle what I loved to do… I tapped into creating content, which helped me integrate my passion for my faith and immigration. This major shift brought me closer to what I love, and I hope to never take it for granted.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abogadaraquel
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/attorneyraquel?mibextid=LQQJ4d
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/abogadaraquel
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/c/abogadaraquel
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@abogadaraquel?_t=8Z0sWbqWKkN&_r=1

Image Credits
Edin Studios (CasaTikTok picture).