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Biography

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Maria L. Santos has practiced law in Massachusetts since 1988 and has over 25 years of experience practicing exclusively in immigration law with focus on employment and family based immigration as well as naturalization. She is a member of the Massachusetts Bar and the U.S. District Court of Massachusetts. Maria’s clients are local, national and international, representing companies of various sizes in industries such as technology, health care, and engineering services.

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Education

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• Boston College Law School, Boston, Massachusetts

  • J.D., Doctor of Jurisprudence - 1988

• Rivier College, Nashua, New Hampshire

  • B.S. - 1985

  • Honors: summa cum laude

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Bar Admission

• Massachusetts, 1988

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Classes & Seminars

• MCLE Presentation - What Employment Lawyers Need to Know About Other Practice Areas—Immigration Pitfalls, February 15, 2011 live and webcast

• College Instructor: Adjunct faculty member at Rivier College in the Paralegal Studies Program early 1990’s. Courses taught: Introduction to Paralegal Studies, Legal Research and Writing and Advanced Legal Research and Writing

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Community Service

• Rectora for Peace/Emmaus movement(a Retreat for ages 19-29)

• Coach for the Lowell Catholic High School Mock Trial Team 1991-1996

• Citizenship Program Volunteer through MAPS – preparing individuals from various cultures for naturalization

• Co-organizer and Creator: Go the Distance, a self-awareness workshop for teenagers in Lowell schools (sponsored by Middlesex Community College)

• Member of the “Motivators” in the Portuguese-American Lowell community. This group was funded by the Luso American Foundation to motivate community voting by Portuguese-Americans.

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Representative Clients

• Small Businesses, Major Corporations, Individuals

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Professional Associations

• American Immigration Law Association (AILA), Member, 1996 - Present

• Massachusetts Bar Association (MBA), Member

• New England Human Resources Association (NEHRA), Member

• Town Representative Precinct 8, Chelmsford, MA since 2017

• School Committee Elected Member April 2019 to present, Chelmsford, MA

• Naveo Credit Union - Board Chair, 2007 - 2017

• Chelmsford Council of Schools, President, 2012 - 2019

• Chelmsford English Language Learners Council for Chelmsford Public Schools District - appointed 2018

• Center Elementary School Chelmsford, MA, PTO President 2011 to 2013

• McCarthy Middle School Chelmsford MA, PTO President 2013 - 2017

• St. Jeanne D’Arc Independent Catholic School (Elementary school) member Board of Trustees 2011 - 2013

• Director for the Board of MAPS (1999-2000)

• Member of the Paralegal Advisory Board Members for the Rivier College Paralegal Program

• Secretary on the Executive Committee of the Alumni Board of Trustees, Rivier College 1995; Board Member 1994 - 1998

• AILA NE member of the Legislative Committee 2020 - 2021

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Past Positions

• Korde & Santos , 1988 to 1995

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Fraternities or Sororities

• Delta Epsilon Sigma

• Kappa Gamma Phi

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Current Employment Position

• Attorney/Partner

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Languages

• English

• Portuguese

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Public Speaking

• Addressed the Honor Students of Rivier College in 1994 at Honors Convocation in a motivational speech entitled

• Presenter at the annual First Time Home Buyer's Seminar sponsored by MassBank for Savings and Merrimack Valley Housing Partnership seminars

• Keynote Speaker Women’s Week Celebration 1999, Lowell, MA

• Keynote Speaker Elder Volunteers Awards Breakfast 1999, Lowell, MA

• Regular Career Day Speaker for various area middle schools and Lowell High School

• Keynote Speaker for the People Who Make a Difference Award Ceremony for Middlesex Community College, Lowell, MA in 2000

• Various workshops and presentations at community colleges and guest speaker on immigration topics such as DACA and other pertinent immigration topics

• Middlesex Community College: presentation on immigration and its history 2017

• UMass Women’s Conference 2019: member of panel of Board Membership

• Immigration in the News for the Middlesex Community College Miles Program 2021