LEAH L. CHAVARRIA
Associate Attorney
Mrs. Chavarria joined the firm in 2014. Her immigration experience consists of assisting clients with applications for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), advance parole, naturalization, adjustment of status, relative petitions, waivers, asylum, withholding of removal, relief pursuant to the Convention Against Torture, relief under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS), and removal defense.
Mrs. Chavarria’s passion for immigration law began when she volunteered to assist refugees starting in 2003. While in law school, she worked with nonprofit organizations like Jewish Family Services, UURISE, ACCESS, Inc., and Alliance San Diego, assisting victims of domestic violence, refugees, and asylees. Her work with immigrant survivors of domestic violence became the backdrop for the Academic Achievement Award she earned for her scholarly writing on the reauthorization of VAWA in March 2013.
In her free time, Mrs. Chavarria volunteers to assist foster youth as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for Voices for Children. She enjoys spending time with her husband and their three rescue dogs, soccer, singing, gardening, and cooking delicious new vegan delights.
Memberships / Admissions:
State Bar of California, admitted 2014, Bar # 297506
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California
Education:
J.D., California Western School of Law, 2014
B.A., Rockhurst University, 2010
Associations / Affiliations:
American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA)
San Diego Chapter’s Law Student Outreach Committee Chair (2015/16)
San Diego County Bar Association
California Western School of Law Community Law Project (CLP): Volunteer Attorney
Languages:
English
Spanish (beginner)
Awards:
- Award for Academic Excellence
- Immigration Seminar & Clinical Field Placement: Helping Victims of Domestic Violence
- Alternative Dispute Resolution Competition Practicum
- Women and the Law
- Legal Drafting
Contact Leah:
Proud Member of AILA
Mrs. Chavarria in the News:
December 22, 2017
Migrant seeking asylum says his toddler was taken away at the U.S. border
December 11, 2017
Father Seeking Asylum In U.S. Struggles To Reunite With 1-Year-Old Taken By Immigration Officials
August 25, 2017
Pregnant Mother Fights for Release from Immigrant Detention Facility in Otay Mesa
August 5, 2017
Unauthorized childhood arrival from Guatemala gets out of ICE custody thanks to Rep. Hunter
August 1, 2017