Rafael Zarate

Bilingual (English/Spanish) immigration legal assistant and Mexican-licensed attorney with hands-on experience preparing family- and humanitarian-based petitions before USCIS and EOIR. Skilled in case management from intake through filing for I-130 / I-485, U Visas, VAWA, asylum, naturalization, waivers, and DACA. Combines practical U.S. immigration casework with a Mexican law degree and graduate study in international migration—bringing cross-border legal insight and direct client service in Spanish to underserved communities.

Immigration Legal Assistant / Paralegal at RAM Legal Services, PC (2024-10 – 2026-06)

• Managed family-based petitions (I-130), Adjustment of Status (I-485), Naturalization (N-400), U Visas, asylum, waivers, and DACA renewals from intake through filing.
• Prepared and assembled evidence packages, case summaries, and filing packets for humanitarian and family-based cases, including VAWA and I-131 Military Parole-in-Place matters.
• Conducted legal research for complex immigration cases and proofread motions and supporting documentation for accuracy and compliance.
• Served as primary point of contact for Spanish-speaking clients, handling intake, case updates, and document collection by phone and in person.
• Handled client payments, attorney and firm calendaring, and day-to-day administrative coordination.

Immigration Case Manager at Albuja Law LLC (2024-01 – 2024-06)

• Managed family petitions, Adjustment of Status, Naturalization, U Visas, and DACA renewals across a full caseload.
• Conducted client meetings, assembled immigration evidence packages, and filed immigration forms with USCIS.
• Drafted evidence, managed email correspondence, and handled administrative duties supporting attorneys.

Project Manager / Director / Immigration Legal Assistant at Lawgic (2021-09 – 2023-12)

• Directed the U.S. department of a leading Mexican legal-education platform, overseeing planning, execution, and content creation for U.S. immigration law courses.
• Recruited and collaborated with attorneys across multiple U.S. states, serving as co-host and researcher for immigration law programming.
• Supported intellectual property matters, including trademark applications for Mexican and U.S. clients.

Legal Intern at Supreme Court of Justice of the State of Jalisco (2018-08 – 2019-08)

• Managed legal notices, certificates, and judicial acts; built foundational knowledge of Mexican civil and commercial procedure.

Specialization in International Migration (Especialidad en Migración Internacional) in International Migration – El Colegio de la Frontera Norte (El Colef) (2026)

Licenciatura en Derecho (Bachelor of Laws) in Law – Universidad de Guadalajara (2017-01 – 2022-12)