Today we’d like to introduce you to Anny Leon.
Thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, how did you get started?
I was born in Caracas, Venezuela, and came to the United States at 10. I lived in Orlando for a few years until settling with my mother in Jacksonville, Florida. I graduated from Wolfson High School and immediately started college at the University of North Florida. After obtaining my Bachelors’s in Psychology, I went to law school locally at Florida Coastal School of Law, graduating in 2016 with a Juris Doctor degree. I continued my education and obtained a Master’s in Business Administration in 2019 through Nova Southeastern University; growing up, I always knew I wanted to be an attorney to help people. My father is an attorney in Venezuela, and he set a great example of what to expect from this career. As an immigrant in the United States, my mother and I were victims of fraud by two immigration attorneys. We were placed in deportation proceedings when I was about 14 years old, and I will never forget how scared my mother was about my future in the United States. While in court, I was mesmerized by the process, the people, and the attorneys. I knew then that I wanted to become an Immigration attorney. While in law school, I worked with the Human Rights and Immigration Clinic, helping those in our community who could not afford an attorney. I handled cases for victims of crimes, trafficking victims, and asylum seekers, amongst others. I also participated in a Juvenile Street Law Clinic, assisting troubled youth in Jacksonville. I have worked at Immigration firms and Family law firms in town. I am well-versed in both fields and love what I do. As one of the few Spanish-speaking attorneys in town, I can provide access to courts and a service that many in the Hispanic community never have a chance to obtain or are too scared to try on their own. This is why I have opened my firm, Law Offices of Anny Leon PLLC.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
As a mother of two and one on the way, a wife, and fur mommy to a Yorkie and a Golden Retriever, the road has not been the smoothest. Many would agree that being a career mom is hard, and finding that sweet spot of balancing being present for your kids and clients is an everyday struggle. While in law school, I would spend many hours studying while my toddler son would play or color around me. While studying for the bar, I would take practice exams on an app on my phone while I nursed my daughter at all-night hours. As a young female Hispanic lawyer, I must prove my worth harder than others. However, I continue to get up every morning and try again. I love what I do and would do it all over again if I had to.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about the Law Offices of Anny Leon PLLC?
My law firm handles family and immigration law matters. We are a fully bilingual firm (Spanish and English). Most of our cases are divorces, paternity actions, child support, relocations, asylums, removal proceedings, family petitions, and naturalization. Our goal is to provide excellent customer service from beginning to end. We offer payment plans on many cases, and our clients always have access to speak to me, the attorney.
What does success mean to you?
To me, success cannot be defined in one single word or statement. Success is very subjective, and it is not linear. Personally, success comes when you can come home every night knowing you gave it your all that day and helped someone else.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.lawofficesofannyleon.com
- Instagram: Abogada_anny904
- Facebook: Abogada Anny Leon and Law Offices of Anny Leon PLLC
Image Credits
Photo by Lina Ocampo
