We recently connected with Paola I. Neri-Michel and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Paola I., thanks for joining us today. Risk taking is something we’re really interested in and we’d love to hear the story of a risk you’ve taken.

I knew I would have my own law firm at some point. I took a big risk when I decided to make the dream a reality during an uncertain time. I opened my law firm in February 2020, and as we all know, one month later the world shut down due to the global Covid-19 pandemic. I have to say it was the perfect time to transition into solo practice, and a 100% virtual one. My journey as an entrepreneur since then has been more than amazing.

I took the risk with a strong sense of self-awareness. I had the experience I needed, the willpower and ambition to succeed, and a mindset that no matter what happened I had no regrets. Going from an office with several coworkers to an office with none did not affect me. As social as I am, I am also an introvert. I enjoy working alone more than in group settings and I did not feel isolated. I also took the risk because going solo was already my plan even before I accepted my second associate attorney position at a new law firm. I was hired with the knowledge that I would go solo in the near future. Integrity is important to me; I have that reputation. Thus, I knew the ball was in my court and it was time to take the leap.

How has this risk turned out? Absolutely magical. Going on my own has opened so many doors. I feel more confident, at peace, and I have grown a ton both personally and professionally. I have thoroughly enjoyed connecting with people from different countries outside of Latin America. The two law firms I worked for catered to the Latinx community, and for the first time I had a client from Africa, India, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, the Philippines, Russia, and Thailand. I love creating my own social media content and spreading knowledge. Social media is powerful and creating videos like Reels on Instagram and on TikTok are great ways to gain more exposure. At times I beat myself up for not putting the time into creating video content as I see other accounts receiving an influx of new followers, but I don’t need to. I have a lot of business and am constantly opening new cases. Remember: The number of followers an account has does not reflect the business’ success. There is a difference between the number of followers and signing a contract. Follow your own journey, do what feels right for you, and don’t compare yourself to others.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

For those who are reading about me for the first time, I want you to know that I am an immigrant who has achieved the American Dream. I immigrated from Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico, when I was five years old and grew up in San Diego, California. Family is very important to me, and my clients say I am very personable; some call me a friend. I have never placed myself on a pedestal because of my degree. For law students reading this, immigration law was not my focus in law school. I wanted to practice entertainment law because as a creative individual I saw myself enjoying that area of law. You go to law school with an idea of what you will eventually practice when you graduate, only to find out that the universe has something else in store for you. It is an experience that is both beautiful and fulfilling. I started practicing immigration law due to a clerkship opportunity in Downtown San Diego while I was waiting for bar results. Little did I know that this experience would lead to my practice of immigration law for over ten (10) years. My advice is to go through law school with an open mind and enjoy the ride.

My law firm focuses on family and employment-based immigration law. On the family side, I process green cards, U.S. citizenship, fiancé(e) visas, DACA and related applications like Advance Parole, U Visas, VAWA, Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests to review your immigration records, and more. On the employment side, I process work visas like E-1 Treaty Trader, E-2 Treaty Investor, H-1B Specialty Occupation, L-1A Intracompany Transferee Executive or Manager, and visas for TN NAFTA Professionals. What sets me apart from others is my natural ability; I am extremely organized, detail-oriented, and enjoy studying and learning new things. I thank my mother for these skills. My mother received straight As at the Escuela Normal Urbana Prof. Domingo Carballo Félix in La Paz, Baja California, Mexico, and placed first in her classroom of kindergarten teachers every year. Her classmates dubbed her, “la matada,” which means that she was always “killing herself” studying and dedicating herself to her craft. I can relate to my mother’s strong ambition, dedication, and passion.

I am most proud of where I am today. From being an immigrant and not knowing the English language, to graduating from college in three years, passing the bar exam on the first try, and owning a successful law practice, I have achieved success and prosperity. My mission as an immigration attorney is to afford others the opportunity to achieve their American Dream by being present and intentional. My law firm has a solid reputation. I am proactive by initiating contact and developing case strategy, promoting justice via legal argument and advocacy, and delivering results. I put forth excellent work product and think outside the box. I employ legal tactics that are substantive, detailed, and creative. At Neri Law Offices, Inc. you will find an environment that exemplifies the values we hold dear in our everyday lives – honesty, integrity, and reliability. With me, you are getting a personal and dedicated small firm experience with a big touch. I believe in quality over quantity and offer high quality representation at an affordable cost. Over the years I have built extensive contacts and strong relationships with governmental agencies, which facilitates case processes and effective communication. I stay up to date on important developments in immigration law to help serve my clients and community better. I am also environmentally conscious and run a business that is ethically driven by being both sustainable and eco-friendly. Currently, my law firm services 22 states across the United States and 24 countries globally. Neri Law Offices, Inc. always delivers more than expected. Achieve the Dream® at Neri Law Offices, Inc.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

There are several things that I believe have shaped my reputation in the immigrant community. First, I have always devoted myself to putting forth my best work. I believe in quality over quantity and since 2021 I have had several waitlists for new clients every year. Most of my clients have found me through word-of-mouth referrals. Second, I have great communication skills. If you read my clients’ reviews of their experiences working with me, this is a recurring theme. I am 100% solo, which means I do not have staff. All client communications and incoming calls, emails, and text messages are managed by me. This is of great value for my clients. Third, I branded my business on social media from the get-go, which has allowed me to reach people outside of California and the United States. I create my own social media content, so the material is personal and in my own style. Lastly, I have come to the forefront not only as a business owner, but as a respected colleague and immigration attorney. I do extensive volunteer work within my community and am part of various law-based committees that are committed to improving the law process for immigrant communities. I am the Immediate Past Chair of the Southern California Chapter for the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), 2022-2023, the largest immigration attorney organization with over 15,000 members across the United States and abroad. Currently, I am a member of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee for AILA Southern California, 2023-2024, where I plan to create more opportunities for people of color. I have been a volunteer for AILA’s Military Assistance Program since I opened my law firm in 2020. AILA MAP is a collaborative effort between AILA and the Legal Assistance Offices (LAOs) of the United States military’s Judge Advocacy General’s (JAG) Corps. I take pro bono cases to help active duty and recently retired military service members in need. This year, I joined the AILA National Military Committee where I will be working on promoting the pro bono program and encouraging more AILA colleagues to volunteer. I am also an active member of the National Lawyers Guild, Los Angeles Chapter, where I served as Co-Chair of the Steering Committee for the Los Angeles Chapter’s Immigration Committee, 2020-2022 and a member of the Los Angeles County Bar Association’s (LACBA) Immigration Section Executive Committee, 2021-Present. This year, I joined the Alumni Board of Governors at Loyola Law School, Los Angeles, where I will be focusing on the law school’s online presence. Apart from this, I have volunteered for Children’s Institute of America, where I presented on common avenues of relief for permanent residence in the United States to parents of students at Woodworth Monroe Middle School, for the Los Angeles LGBT Center’s Legal Clinic, for the Planning Committee for Loyola Law School’s Milestone Reunions and for the Los Angeles Center for Law and Justice’s Celebrating Survivors Gala, for NALEO’s citizenship workshops, for Assemblymember Mike Gipson’s virtual town hall, and have spoken at three AILA conferences as a panelist on immigration law in New York City, Los Angeles, and Orlando.

We’d love to hear about how you keep in touch with clients.

Being 100% virtual, I keep in touch with my clients via telephone calls, text messages, and email. My reputation and great rapport with my clients foster my brand loyalty. Once clients hire me for a specific immigration process, if there is additional work to be done, they rehire me. It has been wonderful to see that the bulk of new business comes from word-of-mouth referrals. When my clients refer me to their loved ones, it highlights the fact that they trust me.

The relationship I have with each of my clients is professional, amicable, and positive. There is mutual respect and understanding. If I don’t know the answer to a question, I will find it. I am dedicated to my clients and my community. I believe that being a genuinely good person, supporting others, and treating people with dignity and respect is important to success.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.nerilawoffices.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abogada_paolaneri/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nerilawoffices
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/abogadapaolaneri
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzLUSGdO8XJUDqfBnAnNRWw?app=desktop
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/neri-law-offices-glendale-2
• Other: Threads: abogada_paolaneri