Marisa Labella

Background

About Marisa Labella

I'm passionate about reforming the immigration and carceral systems in the United States. In my current role as a paralegal at Northwestern Law, I support the Children & Family Justice Center in commuting the sentences of youth with criminal convictions and locating vital reentry services. In addition, I conduct policy research to support our advocacy for fair sentencing of youth. The majority of my legal & policy experience is within the immigrant rights movement. In 2019, I presented my undergraduate thesis on the intersection of law and activism in the immigrant rights movement at the Society for the Anthropology of North America (SANA) conference. Shortly after, I accepted a paralegal position at the National Immigrant Justice Center where I helped my clients apply for benefits in front of various immigration agencies. I specialize in working with victims of violent crime & gun violence, survivors of domestic violence, and youth in criminal proceedings. In addition to providing legal services, I help my clients locate vital services such as housing, mental health services, public benefits, and employment opportunities. My primary goal is to help my clients succeed in their case and achieve self-sufficiency post-legal proceedings. I am bilingual in Spanish and English. In addition to working as a paralegal at Northwestern Pritzker School of Law, I'm also pursuing a Masters Degree in Public Policy and Administration at Northwestern.