Paulina Vera

Paulina Vera serves as a Distinguished Professorial Lecturer in Law and Director of the Immigration Clinic at The George Washington University Law School. In these roles, she supervises law students providing legal representation to asylum-seekers and individuals facing deportation in Immigration Court, while teaching Immigration Law I and leveraging her extensive clinical experience.

Education:

• JD, George Washington University Law School (2015)
• BA in International Affairs, George Washington University (2012), concentrating on Latin American Studies and International Politics with a minor in Spanish Language and Literature

Professor Vera's research and practice focus on Immigration Law with specialized expertise in asylum proceedings, deportation defense, and immigrant rights advocacy. Her work is deeply informed by her personal background as the daughter of immigrants and her commitment to Latinx communities, emphasizing intersectional approaches to legal representation and policy reform in immigration systems.

Awards and Honors:

• GW Latinx Excellence Awards, Alma Award (2019)
• DC Courts Community Agency CORO Award (2019)
• Hispanic Bar Association of DC Rising Star Award (2019)
• HNBA Top Lawyers Under 40 Award (2021)
• Lawyers of Color "Wonderful Women" list (2023)
• Latino Leaders Magazine "Latino Lawyer to Keep on the Watch" (2024)

Through her directorship of the Immigration Clinic, Professor Vera mentors law students in high-stakes immigration cases while managing her passion project "Hermanas In The Law"—an online community supporting Latinas across all stages of legal careers. Her professional leadership extends to board positions in national organizations including the Hispanic National Bar Association's Task Force on Hispanic Law Professors and Deans.

The GW Law Immigration Clinic operates as both a critical legal services provider for vulnerable immigrant populations in the DC metropolitan area and a premier experiential learning environment where students develop practical skills under Professor Vera's supervision.