Laura earned her J.D. from Northern Illinois University College of Law and holds a bachelor of science in political science, with a minor in Latino & Latin American studies, also from Northern Illinois University. Before joining NIJC, Laura served as an IJC Katzmann Fellow at the Advocates for Human Rights in Minneapolis. There, she specialized in representing children and adults in defensive and affirmative asylum cases, BIA appeals, T-visa applications, and Special Immigrant Juvenile Status applications. During her college years, Laura actively participated in local and statewide efforts advocating for immigrant rights in Illinois.