Rea Mae Gacad

Rea Mae Gacad has a diverse work experience in the field of immigration law and advocacy. Rea Mae has held various roles throughout their career, starting as a Volunteer Legal Intern at Archdiocesan Legal Network (Catholic Charities). Rea Mae then worked as a Certified Law Clerk at Bay Area Legal Aid, where they represented clients in family court cases. Rea Mae also served as a Legal Intern at Women Empowered Against Violence, where they worked on assembling VAWA self-petition application packets.

Rea Mae gained further experience as a Certified Student Attorney at Georgetown Law Domestic Violence Clinic, representing indigent clients seeking civil protection orders. Rea Mae then joined the Esperanza Immigrant Rights Project as a Detention Advocacy Fellow, teaching legal orientation programs in ICE detention centers and representing children in state and immigration court proceedings.

Rea Mae later worked at the PAIR Project as an Interim Detention Staff Attorney, filing DACA renewal applications and providing technical support to pro bono attorneys. Rea Mae also served as an LOPC Attorney at Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Boston, delivering legal orientation presentations in Spanish to adults receiving custody of unaccompanied children formerly detained by the Office of Refugee Resettlement.

Prior to their current role, Rea Mae worked at Hartford Public Library as a Lead Immigration Counselor, representing clients seeking citizenship and screening for eligibility challenges. Rea Mae is currently serving as the Director of Transition for Immigrant Legal Defense and Orientation Programs at Vera Institute of Justice, where they oversee the programs and helps immigrants with their legal needs.

Rea Mae Gacad attended Georgetown University Law Center from 2009 to 2012, earning a Juris Doctor degree. Prior to that, they obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from Boston College. Earlier in their education, Rea Mae Gacad attended Notre Dame High School in San Jose, although specific details regarding the degree or field of study are not provided.