THE ATTORNEYS
Valerie Curtis-Diop
Founder and Lead Attorney
Attorney - Certified Specialist, immigration & Nationality Law
Ms. Curtis-Diop has testified as an expert witness, has made presentations and spoken on radio programs regarding immigration issues. She has been consulted by other attorneys for her expertise in Immigration Law, including immigration consequences of criminal convictions, religious workers, detention issues, asylum and domestic violence. She has successfully represented many immigrants from around the world before the USCIS, USICE and USCBP (all 3 agencies of Department of Homeland Security, formerly US INS), the EOIR (Immigration Court), BIA (Board of Immigration Appeals), Department of Labor, BALCA (Board of Alien Labor Certification Appeals), Department of State and Federal Courts of Appeal.
Valerie Curtis-Diop graduated Magna cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa, majoring in Linguistics, from Queens College of the City University of New York; obtained certificate from l’Universite de Nancy, France; is a credentialed teacher of English as a Foreign Language from UCLA Graduate School; she obtained her Juris Doctorate from Southwestern University School of Law from the SCALE program – Southwestern Conceptual Approach to Legal Education -- a two-year intensive program. She is a Certified Specialist in Immigration and Nationality Law certified by The State Bar of California, Board of Legal Specialization.
Valerie Curtis-Diop is a Certified Specialist, Immigration and Nationality Law certified by The State Bar of California, Board of Legal Specialization. She was appointed by the Board of Governors of the State Bar of California to the Legal Specialization Immigration and Nationality Law Advisory Commission where she served for three years as a Commissioner and one year as Chair. She is an active member of AILA (American Immigration Lawyers Association); AILA/EOIR liaison for the San Pedro Immigration Court and Detention Facility; past Treasurer, Southern California Chapter, AILA; past member of the Board of Directors of NISWA, a social services organization.
EDUCATION
Southwestern University School of Law -- SCALE Program
Juris Doctor, Law
L'Universite de Nancy, France
Certificate, French
UCLS Graduate School
Master's Degree, TESL
Queens College
Bachelor's Degree, Linguistics
BAR LOCATION
Bar NumberL 134251
Admittance: 06/14/1988
CREDENTIALS:
Certified Specialist in Immigration and Nationality Law Immigration and Nationality Law
The State Bar of California
LANGUAGES:
English
Spanish
French
Miriam Monzon
Senior Paralegal
Armineh Ebrahimian
Lead Attorney