Today we’d like to introduce you to Jose Campos.
Hi Jose, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I came to the US at the age of 17 without speaking English. I came on a tourist visa and after 6 months my visa expire and I became undocumented. I graduated from high school while working full time at a Taco Bell to pay for my rent. Mom and dad split and I started living on my own while finishing high school. I had all kinds of jobs and I decided to go to college. I paid out of state tuition taking a few classes here and there. I graduated with a business degree from the University of Maryland and I still did not have papers. I started a sales job selling satellite TV business to business. Then I decided to go to law school still while fully undocumented. Hustled. My English level was OK for college but not for law school. On my 2L year a group of 5 guys beat me up and sent me on a stretcher to the hospital. That made me qualify for a U visa. Graduated from law school still no papers. 2 weeks before takin the bar exam my U visa was approved. Then I opened my law firm. You can read my entire life story in a book I wrote: Surviving the Law: From Undocumented Immigration to Lawyers, Doctors and Scientists. https://www.survivingthelaw.com/
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
No smooth road. I had no papers, no money and no education. I had to get the education on my own and read whatever I could. I worked all kinds of jobs. Waiting tables, reception at a hotel, fast food, bookkeeping, side hustles.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
We work with Immigration and Personal Injury cases. We defend people from removal proceedings and help people legalize their immigration status. Whenever there is a car accident we help people pay for their medical treatment and get them compensation for their pain and suffering.
I know what it means to be undocumented so I have first hand knowledge of how my clients feel. I will have a consultation with clients and I will tell them whether I can help or not. If I think that I will not win I rather tell that to the client instead of taking their money.
I want my clients to know that I will give them a honest opinion and that I will tell them straight whether I can do something or not. Sometimes it pains me to tell them that I can’t take their money but I rather tell them the truth in a direct way than giving them false hopes.
How do you think about happiness?
Traveling makes me happy. Hiking National Parks makes me happy. My family, girlfriend makes me happy. I like traveling abroad and meeting new countries. I like to see other ways of life and see what I can learn from other practices. Learning makes me happy. A good book (yes, I’m one of those few people that still read books) and a good movie.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://lawyercampos.com/ and https://www.survivingthelaw.com/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CamposLaw/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/surviving-the-law/posts/?feedView=all
- Other: https://www.instagram.com/survivingthelaw/
