Today we’d like to introduce you to Jennifer Ha. She and her team share their story with us below:
Jennifer C. Ha is the founding partner of JLJ Law Group, PLLC, and a nationally and internationally recognized attorney in the field of immigration law. As a child of immigrants, Jennifer experienced firsthand all of the struggles that immigrants face coming to America.
From an early age, Jennifer served as the interpreter for her parents as they navigated life in their new country. Their struggles became her struggles because she was the one reading all of the documents and translating to other adults on behalf of her parents.
This experience made her very sympathetic to people who did not speak English and stirred in her a strong desire to help others in her community.
During college, Jennifer worked for Dorchester house as the youth coordinator for at-risk teens in Boston and often translated for these families at court whenever they got into trouble. This gave her an up-close look into the harsh realities of a legal system that is biased against those who lacked the ability to communicate fluently in the English language.
As an interpreter, Jennifer could not advocate for her clients and in some circumstances saw that they received unjust results as a result of their language barrier. This inspired Jennifer to go to law school to be an advocate for her community so that she could finally be a voice for those who could not speak up for themselves.
Upon graduating from law school, Jennifer pursued her passion of working in the immigrant community by becoming an immigration attorney. Her work has been recognized by a multitude of organizations and she was recently one of three women entrepreneurs in the Comcast Rise initiative.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
When I started my law firm, I was very scared. I was just a few years out of law school, carrying thousands of dollars in student loans, and always worked for someone else. I didn’t know what I didn’t know and truly had nightmares about my life collapsing if I failed. However, I knew that I had to push through the pain.
Being a woman of color has shaped my journey as a business owner because it helped me realize that a woman of color is a brand that can help you create a successful business by working in the niches. The market has room for us all and there is no need to feel insecure or inadequate because you’re not part of the “good ‘ol boys’ club.”
And there certainly is no need to make your life harder by competing in a giant pool with a bunch of other people who are all the same. When I zoned in on what people like me are looking for, that’s when my business took off. I saw that, strangely, there are a ton of people looking for female attorneys from an immigrant background that are fluent in their native language.
When I discovered this secret sauce, I built my brand around my identity and became one of the most sought-after Vietnamese attorneys in the U.S. and around the world. My waiting list for an appointment is around 60-90 days and my clients willingly wait that amount of time for an appointment. Once you become the biggest fish in the pond, it’s really easy to make a jump into the ocean and by then, you’re a damn good swimmer and you’re not afraid to take on the sharks.
A pivotal point in my career actually occurred about 4 years ago. I had achieved the “golden handcuffs” — financial and professional success, but not enough personal fulfillment in my life. I am a mother of two young children and always carried a lot of mom guilt with me. It was on my birthday that year, when I told my husband, “I’m kinda sick of being an attorney.
I’m tired. I feel burned out. I wanna go to Cafe Rio and be a tortilla maker.” He laughed and said, “What specifically makes you so unhappy?” So I told them I didn’t like certain types of cases. These x, y, z cases drained me and made me not want to practice law.
So he said, “So just stop. Take what you like. Reject what you don’t. It’s that easy.” This was really real life-changing in the grandest sense. So I did what he said. Closed out those cases that drained me of joy and stopped taking on any cases that I did not enjoy. Since doing so, I have had more time, traveled the world, and made the most money I had ever made.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
JLJ Law Group PLLC is an immigration law firm owned by immigrants.
Because we are immigrants ourselves, we have a deep understanding of all the fears and struggles our clients face because we have gone through the same things. This allows us to see our clients not just as customers, but as our family members. We are proud that we have built an international business with a familial touch.
My main area of expertise is business immigration. I connect employers looking for workers with immigrants looking for work. It is truly a win-win situation for all parties. In a time and age where employers are struggling for workers, we help move the economy by assisting others to achieve the American Dream.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
The biggest risk I have taken is starting my own law firm. It was definitely scary walking away from a secure, full-time job and starting my own business. I felt scared, unprepared, and inexperienced. But now, looking back, it was the best decision that I have ever made. I guess that’s why they say crazy people make crazy money; normal people make normal money.
Contact Info:
- Email: jha@jljlawgroup.com
- Website: www.winbillc.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JLJLaw
