Silvia Aguirre
Certified Specialist, Immigration & Nationality Law
State Bar of California, Board of Legal Specialization
CalBar#: 254150
Silvia discovered her passion for counseling families while working during her youth with her parents, the company’s founders. She realized early on that to better serve the immigrant community she needed to become an attorney with the proper legal education and experience. Therefore she decided to further her goals and undertook the challenge to attain the needed skills and license to practice law.
Silvia earned her Bachelor in Business Administration and Management from the California State University of Long Beach where she was an active member of the Hispanic Student Business Association. She went on to attain her Law Degree from Whittier School of Law. While in Law School she furthered her experience and understanding of the legal system by interning for the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services – California Service Center, the Whittier Law School Children’s Rights Clinic and the Glendale YWCA domestic violence center.
After passing the California Bar Exam, Silvia has successfully represented Immigrants in deportation defense, family, bankruptcy, and criminal courts. She is licensed to practice before the U.S. District Court, Central District of California, and the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. She also recently passed the Immigration Specialist exam in the State of California. Silvia continues to further her legal education by attending legal seminars, participating in the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), the Los Angeles County Bar Association (LACBA), and the Mexican American Bar Association (MABA). She also participates in free legal informational forums in our local community.
Education
J. D. Whittier School of Law
Bachelor in Business Administration and Management, CSULB
Bar Admissions and Professional Licenses
California
California Board of Legal Specialization – Certified Specialist, Immigration & Nationality Law
The United States District Court for the Central District of California
The United States 9th Circuit Court of Appeals
Professional Associations and Memberships
American Immigration Lawyers Association
Los Angeles County Bar Association
The Mexican American Bar Association
Stephanie Estrada
Immigration Attorney
CalBar#: 322509
Stephanie was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. Stephanie personally relates to the stories of many immigrant families seeking a better life in the United States because she is the proud daughter of immigrant parents from Mexico. Growing up in a family and community of hard working immigrants motivated Stephanie to continue her education. From an early age, she developed a passion of advocating for immigrant rights. She soon realized the immigrant community was under-served in the legal field and made it her goal to become an immigration lawyer.
Stephanie is a first generation graduate, as the first person in her family to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in political science from Arizona State University and a Juris Doctorate degree from Southwestern Law School. While in law school Stephanie completed internships at a prominent law firm in Buenos Aires, Argentina, the immigrant rights project at Public Counsel, and the Southwestern Law School Immigration Law Clinic. During her time in law school, Stephanie was also an active member of the Latino Law Students Association and served as President of the Immigration Law Students Association.
Education
J. D. Southwestern Law School
Bachelor of Science, Arizona State University
Bar Admissions and Professional Licenses
California
Professional Associations and Memberships
American Immigration Lawyers Association
The Aguirre Law Firm’s goal is to continue providing the same level of service it has provided to the community since 1970. To continue the family tradition of providing professional, honest and cost effective immigration legal solutions the community can trust.
The Company first opened its doors in 1970 under the name of “Arturo Aguirre Business Service”. It was founded by Arturo Aguirre and his wife Maria Castillo-Aguirre, by immigrants for immigrants. The Company has thrived based on its commitment to providing prompt, caring, and understanding services. It has built a loyal customer base on their honest assessments of individual cases families can trust. It is what has kept clients returning and referring their families and friends for years.
In February 2010, the Company officially became The Aguirre Law Firm, a Professional Law Corporation, after Silvia Aguirre, the founder’s daughter earned her law degree. It expanded its services to offer Attorney representation and analysis for the client’s legal needs and is now able to provide greater services for our community.
Today The Aguirre Firm APC remains committed to assisting Immigrants with the same care and understanding the founders have provided since 1970. With the Founders continued insight, leadership, and example, The Aguirre Law Firm looks forward to assisting thousands of immigrants in the many years to come.
Administrators
Arturo Aguirre
Arturo founded the Business in 1970 with the vision of helping the immigrant community legalize their status in the US. He knew the challenges and difficulties of new immigrants and dedicated himself to studying the ever changing legal procedures in order to help explain and successfully guide many through this legal process. The business has thrived based on his commitments to providing excellent prompt services with the utmost care and understanding. In 2006, he received the prestigious Exemplary Service award from the State of California for his extraordinary contributions to the community. Arturo also served as president of the National Association of Immigration Consultants for many years. With his many years of continuing success, he now serves as a mentor to The Aguirre Law Firm.
Raul Arteaga
Raul is the Law Firm’s Marketing and Information Systems Director. He was born in El Salvador and immigrated to the United States at the age of ten. He faced adversity but overcame and earned his Bachelor degree in Interactive Design. He brings over 6 years of experience in his field. He has the passion to assist immigrants find the resources they need to succeed in attaining legal status in the U.S. He knows and understands the great need families have to find the trustworthy and affordable services. Raul is also Silvia’s husband and together they make a formidable team sharing the same passions and goals.
Case Assistants
Maria Aguirre
Maria has been one of the principal leaders for the business with Arturo. She has equally devoted herself to assisting many immigrants legalize their status in and outside the United States. She brings over 40 years experience of provided exceptional and caring services. She continues to be a key asset to our team by supervising and setting an example for true dedication and passion to help the community. She sets a high bar for excellence and is an inspiration to us all. She is also a caring, supportive, and motivating wife and mother.
Salvador Martinez
Salvador immigrated to the United States from Mexico when he was only 2 years of age. He knows firsthand the struggles immigrant families go through. On June 15, 2012 DACA opened many doors to young adults including Salvador’s. As a DACA recipient, Salvador attempts to help the immigrant community go through their immigration process as painless as possible. Salvador not only relates to the undocumented immigrants, he knows what it feels like to have one’s humanity stripped off by this administration for being a Mexican immigrant, person of color and LGBT member.
Salvador knows the importance of family and education and is currently pursuing his BA in Computer Engineering with a minor in Business Administration. He hopes that his continued development, as an immigration case worker at The Aguirre Law Firm, is able to help as many people as possible before opening his next chapter in life.
German Laguna
German Laguna was born and raised in Los Angeles, CA. He grew up in the Koreatown neighborhood of Los Angeles where he was exposed to different cultures. German grew up wanting to be a social worker to help vulnerable individuals. As he got older, he realized the best way to help people is by advocating for their rights. He began his career in the legal field by working in an eviction law firm where he made sure that property owners were following the law. During his four years of service at the eviction firm, he learned the importance of having patience with clients who are facing a stressful situation. He also learned the importance of communicating with the clients and guiding them through the legal process.
Throughout his life, German has seen individuals in his community being taken advantage of because of their lack of legal status and knowledge of their rights. German feel that the injustice in the immigrant community has increased since the last presidential election. These experiences influenced him to leave his job of four years to pursue a career in immigration law.
German is in the process of finishing up his Paralegal Studies degree at Los Angeles City College, and he looks forward to going to law school in the near future. In the meantime, German is now proud to be part of a passionate firm dedicated to helping the immigrant community.
Aida Aguilera
Aida was born and raised in East Los Angeles. Growing up in East Los Angeles she was able to personally witness the limitations that come from a diverse low-income community. Aida knew her educational end goal was to be in a position to assist her community; therefore, she pursued a Juris Doctorate and started her career in the legal field.
Aida has experience in Employment, and Family Law, but it was Immigration Law that captured her interest. Aida was able to assist her immigrant parents from Mexico through their path to legal status and now she wants to be able to do the same for others.There is a daily struggle for individuals to get legal status as laws have been made more complicated, but this ratifies her goal of being an advocate for the immigrant community.
Support Staff
Eliana Roca
Eliana was born in Santa Cruz De la Sierra, Bolivia. She immigrated to the US at the age of 21. That is when she discovered her passion of helping immigrants through their struggles of immigration difficulties and challenges. Eliana worked as a legal assistant for 2 years before joining The Aguirre Law Firm in 2013. As a case assistant with The Aguirre Law Firm, Eliana has assisted in the opening of the Aguirre Law Firm’s Van Nuys Office. She’s well known for treating all her clients with the utmost respect. Eliana listens to every individual case thoroughly to assist in their legal requirements and procedures. She uses her compassion, knowledge, and experience to help immigrant families surpass their struggles in the US through legal ramifications. She now helps The Aguirre Law Firm with Sales and receptionist work.
