Compassion from experience
by David DeKunder
As an immigration attorney, Roberto Campos (LL.M. ’18) has walked in the shoes of the clients he represents every day.
It was not long ago that Campos, along with his parents and five siblings, immigrated to the U.S. from Mexico. The process was frustrating for the family because of the language barrier. His mother, who spoke little English, found it difficult to communicate with their attorneys. It was often up to Campos, who spoke better English, to communicate with the attorneys on what needed to be done to become American citizens.
His personal experience of navigating the immigration system convinced Campos that his career path was to become an immigration attorney.
“I always had that in the back of my head,” Campos said. “There is a need for attorneys who can understand the actual needs of their client and humanize their needs.”
Before immigrating to the U.S., Campos earned his bachelor’s degree in Law from Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey on its campus in his hometown of Mexico City. After he arrived in San Antonio, he joined the St. Mary’s University School of Law’s Master of Laws (LL.M.) in American Legal Studies Program.
The LL.M. in American Legal Studies is a degree for internationally trained lawyers. This degree satisfies the U.S. legal education requirement for the LL.M. graduate to sit for the Texas, California or New York bar exams. This concentration is now available through an online course curriculum.
During his time in the LL.M. Program, Campos interned with the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF) — an organization with a history of protecting and defending the rights of Latinos in the U.S. — assisting the legal staff on litigation and legislative matters.
Campos said while interning at MALDEF, he learned what it took to be a good attorney: “You need to put in the work in order to be successful.”
He also worked pro bono as an immigration attorney for the Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services (RAICES) for the Karnes Pro Bono Project. He represented families and women detained at the Karnes County Residential Center, assisting them in their deportation defense.
Because of his service there, Campos was recognized by St. Mary’s Law for his pro bono work for the 2017-2018 academic year.
“There is a need for attorneys who can understand the actual needs of their client and humanize their needs.”
— Roberto Campos (LL.M. ’18)
Professor of Law Al Kauffman, J.D., taught Campos and described him as a very bright and curious student with the ability to listen to the concerns of those he represents.
“Campos has a certain degree of humility, which is important,” Kauffman said. “He is able to talk to people and hear what their issues are and then represent them. He’s a person who’s willing to hear the client’s story and figure out how he can help with their issues.”
Campos is a partner and co-founder of Rivera Hernandez Campos PLLC in San Antonio. He represents individuals and businesses in the field of immigration and nationality law. Campos has worked on and argued hundreds of immigration cases during his career in immigration courts across the U.S., including San Antonio.
In 2024, the St. Mary’s University School of Law Graduates of the Last Decade (GOLD) Council selected Campos as a GOLD Council 10 Under 10 honoree, which recognizes 10 outstanding alumni who graduated within the last 10 years and have shown extraordinary commitment to the law school, their community and their profession.
Campos described his selection as a 10 Under 10 awardee as a true honor. “I’m very thankful to the School of Law and everyone who nominated me,” Campos said. “Being honored for my work was something I had dreamt of; I couldn’t believe it. I am very thankful to the University.”
