Pro Bono Attorney Spotlight: Jaclyn O’Connor
Jaclyn O’Connor, Esq. is a partner at the Law Office of Robert M. Bell in Hollywood, Florida, where she practices family-based immigration and deportation defense. A native of south Florida, Jaclyn has a passion for giving back to her local community. She has been active with the South Florida Chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, recently serving as the chair of the AILA wellness committee.
Since 2016, Jaclyn has provided pro bono assistance to 14 Veteran families through the Mission United Veterans Pro Bono Project.
As an immigration attorney, O’Connor practices before U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the Immigration Courts, and the Board of Immigration Appeals. She also prepares petitions for adjudication of dependency to qualify immigrant children for permanent residency and represents clients in detention, specifically at Krome Detention Center, Glades County Detention Center, and Broward Transitional Center.
Jaclyn is a graduate of the Florida International University College of Law, where she participated in the Carlos A. Costa Immigration and Human Rights Clinic under the tutelage of Juan Carlos Gomez, Esq. While in law school, she served as President of the Women’s Law Society and Vice President of the American Constitution Society. Jaclyn has volunteered to provide legal services to the immigrant community through numerous deferred action and naturalization drives throughout Florida. She has also volunteered for the CARA Pro Bono Project in Dilley, Texas, assisting women and children who recently entered the U.S.
She is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association and Broward County Bar Association. She has been appointed as a member of the AILA SFL Immigration Law Update Planning Committee and was previously a member of the DMV Committee and USCIS Committee. In addition, O’Connor and the
Law Office of Robert M. Bell recently became annual sponsors of the Legal Aid Organizations in Broward County.