Ms. Habtu graduated magna cum laude, top 10%, with a Juris Doctorate in Law from Southwestern University School of Law. She was Associate Editor of the school’s law review and received the American Jurisprudence Awards for achieving the top score in several classes.

Ms. Habtu received an international education spanning three continents — Africa, Europe and the United States. She prides herself in being culturally competent; taking into account clients’ values and sensitivities when communicating with them.

Ms. Habtu is a member of the California State Bar and the Los Angeles County Bar Association. She is admitted to practice law before the Supremen Court of California and U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.  

Ms. Habtu believes in giving back to the community.  She has served on various human-rights related and non-profit organizations.  

Practice

Immigration

Our law office represents clients in both USCIS-based and immigration court cases.  We represent clients from across the globe who seek to enter the U.S. in a legal manner.  Processing visas through U.S. embassies and consular posts can be tricky and having effective counsel to represent your interests is essential and time-saving.  Our office will complete the process and set interview dates on your behalf.  

In the U.S., we have successfully petitioned for numerous immigrant and nonimmigrant visas with USCIS. Further, we routinely accompany clients to adjustment of status (green-card) interviews as well as naturalization interviews.  

In immigration court, depending on applicable reliefs, our law office defends clients from being removed and deported from the United States.  

List of Visas and Immigrant Petitons

I.    Non-Immigrant Visas

• Student Visas
• Visitor and Business Visas
• Actors, Artists, Singers and Other Entertainer Visas
• Athlete Visas
• Work Visas
• Trader and Investor Visas 
• Religious Worker Visas
• VAWA Visas based on domestic abuse
• T Visas for Victims of Human Trafficking
• U Visas for Victims of Crime
• Work Authorizations
• Change of Status
• Visa Extensions

II.   Immigrant Petitions 

• Asylum Filings
• Marriage and Fiancé Based Petitions
• Relative Petitions
• Employment-Based Petitions 
• VAWA based Petitions

III.  Naturalization & Citizenship

• Naturalize an acquire American

IV.  Immigration Court and Appeals

• Deportation and Removal Defense
• Appeals to Board of Immigration

 V.  Other Specialities  

• Waivers for Inadmissability Issues
• Unlawful Prescence Waivers
• J Waivers
• Fee Waivers

Personal Injury

A personal injury case arises as a result of an accidental or intentionalal act committed against you.  For example, a car accident or a slip and fall, wherebyyou sustain bodily and/or emotional injury, may give rise to a personal injury claim.  You may have a claim against the faulting party and recover monetary compensation for the harm you sufferred and any economic losses resulting from loss of work.    

Our law office will represent you zealously and seek compensatory damages on your behalf.  Usually, you will have no out-of-pocket expenses in pursuing a personal injury claim.  Our law firm is “paid” or receives compensation, when you are awarded a settlement or win a verdict.  Again, you incur no costs in pursuing a legitimate personal injury claim.  

Types of personal injury claims include but are not limited:

• Motor vehicle accidents including car, bicycle, truck and pedestrian accidents
• Aviation & train accidents
• Slip & fall and other premises liability 
• Construction site accidents
• Nursing home abuses 
• Wrongful death of a loved one 
• Dog Bites