Dedicated legal expertise you can rely on
With over a decade of focused experience, our team at the Law Office of Julianna Rivera, P.C., represents youth and families in immigration matters and in state and federal courts. We are child-focused, collaborate closely with referring attorneys and community organizations, and selectively pursue complex federal cases where our expertise can drive timely, just outcomes.
​
Areas of Expertise
​​
-
10+ years specializing in obtaining immigration protections and status for youth and children through a process called Special Immigrant Juvenile Status
-
Extensive experience in California state courts seeking court orders necessary for the Special Immigrant Juvenile Status process.
-
Experience in federal litigation (now taking immigration benefit delay and denial cases in addition to Federal Tort Claims Act cases to seek damages for harm committed by government officials).
-
Spanish-language support and access to indigenous-language interpreters.
-
Emphasis on youth-centered advocacy and supporting immigration attorneys with their youth client cases.

01
Background
​
-
Founded private practice in 2015 to provide dedicated and empathetic legal services to families and youth
-
Nonprofit attorney since 2021, representing K-12 students and families in removal proceedings.
-
Previously a research attorney for the Michigan Court of Appeals, recognized for distinguished service.
-
Fluent in English and in Spanish.
-
Licensed to practice law in Michigan and California and admitted to federal courts in both states.
​
02
Trainings & Webinars
-
Procedural Hot Topics in Family & Probate Court, Immigrant Legal Resource Center, July 2023.
-
"Who Needs to Know?: Navigating Notice and Service When Seeking Special Immigrant Juvenile Findings in California State Court," Acacia Center for Justice, July 2024
-
Special Immigrant Juvenile Status Internal Attorney Training, University of California Immigrant Legal Services Center, August 2023
-
“Screening for SIJS: Establishing Eligibility and Explaining Next Steps,” Justice & Diversity Center of The Bar Association of San Francisco, March 2021
03
Conferences
& Publications
-
"Expanding access to our courts: How extending probate court’s jurisdiction to establish guardianships protects vulnerable immigrant youth in Michigan", State Bar of Michigan, Michigan Bar Journal, May 2025
-
37th Annual American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) California Chapters Conference, "Special Immigrant Juvenile (SIJ) Hot Topics and Tips," November 2024
-
Coauthored Related Practice Advisory: Special Immigrant Juvenile (SIJ) Hot Topics and Tips: Notice and Service
-
of Process in California Probate and Family Law SIJ Cases
-
34th Annual AILA California Chapters Virtual Conference, “Relief for Immigrant Children,” November 2021
-
Coauthored Related Practice Advisory: Relief for Immigrant Children
-
-
32nd Annual AILA California Chapters Conference, "California Family and Probate Law in the Immigration Context," November 2019
Get to know Julianna
Julianna is from the Great Lakes State and now lives in the Golden State with her husband, two wonderful kids, and a cat named Charlemagne Pickles.
She enjoys yoga, the outdoors, and cheering on the Detroit Lions!
