Estela R. Unzueta

Estela R. Unzueta is of counsel with Ana M. Mencini & Associates, P.C. concentrating in family-based immigration and family law.

Ms. Unzueta began her career in the legal field with the United States District Court in Chicago, Illinois.  She was employed by the United States District Court for more than six years.  During this time, she held several different positions, from Secretary to the Directors to courtroom deputy for the Honorable Blanche M. Manning.  As Secretary to the Directors, Ms. Unzueta worked primarily for the Clerk of Court and Chief Deputy Clerk and also assisted in the coordinating of attorney admissions to the Federal Bar.  As a courtroom deputy, Ms. Unzueta was responsible for managing and monitoring Judge Manning’s civil and criminal case calendar.  She prepared minute orders for all court proceedings, sentencing orders in criminal cases, final judgments in civil cases and other procedural documents.  As courtroom deputy, Ms. Unzueta had daily contact with attorneys and pro se litigants regarding scheduling, filing of pleadings and status of cases.

Ms. Unzueta is a graduate of Madonna High School.  She earned a Bachelor’s Degree from DePaul University in June 2000 with a major in management and a minor in Spanish.  In addition, Ms. Unzueta holds a law degree from Chicago-Kent College of Law, which was awarded in May 2004.  While at Chicago-Kent, Ms. Unzueta earned a certificate in labor and employment law, was on the Dean’s List (Fall 2004), earned the CALI Award for Highest Grade in Illinois Civil Procedure, and studied immigration law under Carla Tapia-Ruano, past-president of AILA.  Ms. Unzueta sat for the bar exam in July 2004 and was admitted to the practice of law in Illinois in November 2004.

While with Ana M. Mencini & Associates, P.C., Ms. Unzueta has worked on naturalization cases and numerous consular processing and adjustment of status cases.  She has prevailed on a Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) petition and has successfully won numerous waiver cases.
Ms. Unzueta was born and raised on Chicago’s west side and is the daughter of Mexican immigrants.  Not only is she fluent in Spanish, but she understands first-hand the struggles and hardships suffered by the immigrant community.

Ms. Unzueta lives in the Chicago suburbs with her husband and three children.  Throughout the years, Ms. Unzueta has been active in her community, from teaching CCD classes and tutoring ESL students, to assisting in soup kitchens for the homeless, and most recently acting as a soccer coach   Ms. Unzueta also volunteers in the immigrant community, most recently participating in the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society’s naturalization workshops.

Ms. Unzueta is a member of the Illinois Bar Association, American Bar Association, Chicago Bar Association, Federal Bar Association and American Immigration Lawyers Association.