We were lucky to catch up with Ysabel Lonazco recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Ysabel thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

The story behind my mission starts with my father who as an immigrant himself was sent by his parents as a child to another city seeking a better future for him. As a child, instead of playing outside, he would clean a house, serve others so he could continue his education.

My father taught me the value of hard work, the value of service, the value of serving others, the value of education, and the value of family.

My father served his country in the Peruvian Navy, and he is my inspiration to serve the immigrant community in the United States.

As him, I also immigrated to look for a better future. I immigrated along with my husband with only one mission-getting an education. I had no clue I’d be where I am today in life.

I applied everything dad taught me, hard work, service, and perseverance. Everything I do, I always ask myself, would think make my dad proud?

If my dad could express himself, I know he would be proud. He is now at the last stage of his life struggling with his health while I am trying to find ways to honor him.

Ysabel, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I am an immigrant from Peru who before immigrating to the United States, obtained a law degree. My husband, like my father, was in the Navy, he was serving his country in a Submarine.

With a law degree, a suitcase full of dreams, and $500, we left the world we knew to travel to the United States.

At first, I was afraid to be an attorney in Perú, I felt I wasn’t cut for it. I was shy, and I was just paralyzed with fear. However, in the United States, I had the opportunity to work with attorneys who inspired me and whom made me realize that there was nothing else I wanted to be than an attorney.

I am an immigration attorney. I believe that what sets me apart from others is that as an immigrant myself, I understand what every immigrant goes through when trying to obtain legal status in the US. I have walked the walk. When I tell my clients I understand what they are going through, that could not be more real. I have struggled obtaining my own green card for about 10 years.

Many people think that because I had a law degree, being a law-abiding citizen, would make me automatically a US citizen. Far from true.

Another thing that sets me apart is that as an immigrant, I met six attorneys who told me that my immigration case was imposible, u til I found a seventh attorney who worked hard and made it possible. I aspire to be that seventh attorney to my clients.

The impossible cases are the ones I’m more proud of. Cases where clients came from other attorneys or who thought themselves there was nothing to do. Being that light in the darkest moments is what I’m most proud of.

My gift, my calling is to help my community understand immigration law and to serve my community to keep families together.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

I think I can share two stories.
Story 1: since the time I immigrated to the United States, I consulted with immigration attorneys, attorneys who at the time told me to go back to my country, to do nothing, that my case was not possible, I could never be an attorney with my law degree in Peru, or question why I didn’t seek a student visa from my country. These attorneys are now my colleagues, brilliant attorneys who I admire. I hope that when they see me, they remember to reconsider the word impossible. My seventh attorney was the one who worked on a plan with me, the one that took the time to help me prepare my case, who saw me as a human with potential. She believed I could do it and after I had lost hope, she gave it back to me.
If I had given up, and believed attorneys 1-6, I would no be where I am today

Story 2: passing the bar exam. I failed the first attempt to pass the bar exam. I thought the stories I told my self were true, there was no way I could ever become an attorney in the US with my level of English, I was not good enough. I had heard stories of native English speakers who went to law school and never passed the bar exam. I heard, I could still be a paralegal.
I decided to try again, I stopped my life for 4 months, I studied Monday through Sunday from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m., I was on a mission. I was not going to give up.

I passed the exam on my second attempt. This was the biggest lesson for myself and my girls who now know that we can always try again.

I am proud to not have given up. Not passing the bar exam was my darkest moment professionally speaking, but it was totally worth it.

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

Satisfied clients. A hundred percent of my referrals come from another happy client.
I think when you give your heart out to what you do, people notice. My clients know they were not just another client, each client has helped me build my practice and I am most proud to be a firm built from those type of referrals instead of just marketing.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://lonazcolaw.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lonazco_law/profilecard/?igsh=MWhzczJqcWJiNTZyaA==
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/19irXmP94x/?mibextid=wwXIfr
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/abogadaysabel
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@lonazcolaw?si=5jk4s9svxfR9LVkx

Image Credits

Julio Seminario
Regina Luque