Today we’d like to introduce you to Karen Torres.
Karen, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I was born in Allende, Nuevo Leon, Mexico. My parents decided to move to the United States when I was seven years old. My parents settled in La Feria, Texas, a small-town part of the Rio Grande Valley. At first, I hated it. I missed my family and friends. I did not know the language and struggled to adapt to the environment. During my years at La Feria ISD, I met a lot of teachers and coaches that helped me get where I am today. Many of them saw more potential in me than I saw in myself.
Growing up was hard. I felt like my family and I had to stay in the shadows. People knew me, but they didn’t know me. They did not know that my family and I were in the U.S. undocumented, and that made us a target. The constant fear about coming home one day, and that my parents would be gone was immeasurable. It was not something I announced to the world. I knew that people could use information like this against us. As an undocumented child, you are raised to stay in the shadows, so you do not put yourself or your family in any danger. The decision to migrate to the U.S. with eight children cannot be easy for any parent. My parents left what they had known for the complete unknown. I knew they were doing what was best for our family, and that it was up to each one of us to make it work, so that we would have food, shelter, and an opportunity at a better life. Still, it was not easy. There was the language barrier, the inability to get a decent job and the making fun of my accent, which happens even to this day.
I loved school and my extracurricular activities. But after graduating from La Feria High School, I felt my dreams begin to fall apart. I did not have employment authorization and because of my immigration status, I could not get financial aid to continue my education. Many wonder why our community gets married at such a young age and why high school education is viewed as a great accomplishment. As a woman in the community I was raised in, we are rasied to believe 18 is the age to get married and become a housewife. Perhaps I was the rebel in the family when it came to that.
My first job was helping a lady sell items at a flea market. I hated those days, but it was extra spending money. I was not raised in a home where we went to the movies, out to eat or to play arcade games. There was no money for that, and we all knew it. After graduation, I did not know exactly what I was going to do, but I did know that I wanted to get an education. A teacher that helped my family throughout the years took me to a technical college to help me enroll. By this time, my parents had ten children. I was the sixth child and no sibling before I attempted college, so it was all new to my parents and me. Earlier that same year, I toured a university with a group of students who would later attend to play sports. It is safe to say the technical college was not my first choice, but the University was not a viable option for me. I started the technical college while working full time at a restaurant where I earned enough money to pay for tuition and books. At times, I could only attend school part time because that was all I could afford. After a few years, it became frustrating. My friends were graduating from college and I felt so far behind. Eventually, at 23 years of age, I was able to get my legal status in the United States. This was a big relief and gave me the boost I needed to push my education forward. After finishing my basics at the technical school, I transferred to the University of Texas at Brownsville, Texas.
I felt that a lot of time had already passed, and I was not getting any closer to my bachelor’s degree. Therefore, to hurry up and receive my bachelor’s degree, I enrolled in 21 hours of classes for the semester. The University was hesitant in allowing it, but with the Dean’s consent, I was approved. Some of my friends thought I was overdoing things, but I wanted the degree. I finally finished my Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice at the University in 2007. During my last semester, the University offered a pre-law scholarship for certain students to attend a summer class to prepare them for the law school admission exam. I was awarded one of the scholarships and took the course. After I took the entrance exam, I did not do anything with my scores. I decided to move forward with my career and became a social service worker for the Bair Foundation. In addition, I obtained my alternative teaching certification in Special Education and began teaching at a Middle School shortly after that. During this time, I also coached basketball, soccer and track. After a year of teaching, I decided to apply for law school. Nearly two years had passed since taking the entrance exam, but I figured the worst that could happen was them denying admission.
In 2009, I was admitted to Thurgood Marshall School of Law in Houston, Texas. Truthfully, I was terrified. I had not lived outside the Rio Grande Valley and I did not know what to expect. There was also the concern of being away from my family. I remember arriving in Houston, the first thing I did was take a nap and I still recall that feeling when I woke up. I had difficulty breathing and major anxiety. But, I had come this far and giving up was not an option.
Law school was completely different from undergrad. It required so much more commitment and time management. After completing my first two semesters, I knew I had to get a job because it was hard to live off student loans. I also took summer classes and worked part-time. I kept working through my second-year while attending as a full-time student. After just over two years of hard work, I graduated from law school a semester early. A week before passing the State Bar Exam, I was hired at the Forester Law Firm as a Legal Assistant. After receiving my bar results, I accepted an attorney position.
The firm was a good fit for me. After just two years in the attorney role, I became a partner. The firm was then renamed to The Forester & Torres Law Firm. The young girl who was the first in her family to attend and graduate college was now a named partner. It was not easy and there were many times I could have given up. But I did not.
Now, as an attorney with a practice focused primarily on immigration, I fight for so many people who, like me, want nothing more than an opportunity in life to achieve their dreams. I see my dad, mom, brothers, sisters, and even myself in many people I now advocate for. And, while many people may look-up and admire the stars, I worked hard to climb a mountain to grab them
Has it been a smooth road?
It has not been a smooth road. The first struggle was leaving what you knew for the unknown, followed by the language barrier and my legal status in the United States.
Tell us more about the business.
The Forester and Torres Law Firm specializes in helping people solve various legal matters. Our practice areas include immigration, criminal law, personal injury, and family law. The majority of our cases are immigration-related, which often includes family and criminal law elements. I am proud of being able to help people obtain their legal status in the United States. As an immigrant, I have the compassion and determination to find a solution for their legal needs and not take advantage of others under the circumstances.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
Growing. The constant change in law tends to keep attorneys on their toes. Practicing law is a constant need for staying informed and up to date with any new laws. For example, changes in immigration law depend largely on the administration and political elections.
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