Zaida Rivera has been an immigration practitioner for over 7 years. Zaida’s most recent position was as a Practitioner in Residence for the Immigrants’ Rights/International Human Rights Clinic at the Center for Social Justice part of Seton Hall Law’s newly launched detention project funded by the state’s Detention and Deportation Defense Initiative. The project provides pro bono legal representation to vulnerable detained immigrants in Immigration Courts in New Jersey.
Previously, Zaida served as a Pro Bono Coordinating Attorney at Kids in Need of Defense in Seattle and in New York, and as Staff Attorney for the NW Immigrant Rights Project in Seattle, WA, where she coordinated weekly Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals clinics, conducted community outreach, and provided representation to clients in various immigration matters. Additionally, as the former Director of Legal Clinics for the Latino/a Bar Association of Washington, she coordinated legal clinics in Seattle and rural areas in Washington State.
Zaida is the proud daughter of hardworking Mexican immigrants, and an immigrant herself. She received her B.A. in International Relations and Spanish from Gonzaga University and her JD from the University of Idaho College of Law. As the first in her family to graduate from high school, college, and law school, she is passionate about inspiring youth to pursue higher education.
