Wasatch Immigration Project, the Park City-based nonprofit law firm providing pro bono and low bono legal services to community members who are navigating the immigration system, has hired Laura Rojas as its first full-time attorney. Founded in 2023, Wasatch Immigration Project, founded in 2023, s aid it saw demand for legal assistance quickly exceed the project’s service capacity of its four, part-time volunteer attorneys. In 2024, Wasatch Immigration Project attorneys represented 147 clients and filed 195 applications. From June through December of 2024, the firm received 240 requests for legal consultations and conducted 92 consults. In most cases, each consult translated to multiple new clients and multiple matters. And the demand has only increased with recent changes to immigration law, policy and enforcement, the project said, which led to over 100 people in a waitlist. They’ve had to pause consults several times. The project said it has worked hard to raise funds to hire at least one full-time attorney. “With generous support from community members and grants from the Utah Bar  Foundation and Park City Community Foundation, WIP was able to post a staff attorney opening early this year and conducted interviews in January and February,” said Maggie AbuHaidar, executive director for Wasatch Immigration Project and one of the firm’s volunteer attorneys. “We were lucky to receive a number of applications from highly qualified, passionate attorneys. We faced a hard decision and ultimately agreed that Laura was not only a highly qualified, bilingual attorney, but would be the best match with the culture we are building and the community we serve.” Rojas spent her early career as a foster care case manager in Detroit and Miami and, after graduating from Loyola University Chicago School of Law, as an Assistant Public Defender in Miami-Dade County for more than a decade. As an APD, she represented clients who  had immigrated to the United States and carefully advised them on the tricky intersection between criminal and immigration law. Most recently, Rojas took on cases as a volunteer attorney for WIP. “Laura’s background,” AbuHaidar said, “demonstrated a lifelong respect for and commitment to serving those in her community who needed legal assistance, but who could not afford private representation. This is exactly what we are trying to do here at (Wasatch Immigration Project).” Rojas, her husband, and their two children have lived in Park City for almost 10 years. “Multiple Park City schools have benefitted from Laura’s volunteerism over the years, which joyous energy she will now direct to Wasatch Immigration Project,” AbuHaidar said. Rojas said she is honored to begin work as a full-time attorney with Wasatch Immigration Project.“I appreciate the opportunity to provide our clients with the dignity of a conversation and honest, thoughtful legal advice,” Rojas said.  In addition to hiring Rojas, WIP also recently and proudly announced the expansion of its Board of Directors to include Patter Birsic, Co-Founder of The National Pancreas Foundation; J. Enrique Sanchez, Intermountain State Director for the American Business Immigration Coalition; Joana Saucedo Mandragon, a Community Health Case Manager at The People’s Health Clinic; and Diego Zegarra, Vice President of Equity and Impact at Park City Community Foundation. “We’re thrilled to have their passion and expertise supporting our mission,” said John Sharkey, board chair. To learn more about WIP, volunteer your time or make a donation, visit wasatchimmigrationproject.org.The post Wasatch Immigration Project hires first full-time attorney to boost service capacity appeared first on Park Record. ...read more read less