Anabel Sanchez

Ms. Sanchez grew up in Los Angeles and was the first in her family to attend college.  She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Sociology from the University of California, Los Angeles.  Upon graduation she began working for a homeless shelter located in skid row called Union Rescue Mission.  Since her employment at the Union Rescue Mission, she has focused her career towards assisting underprivileged communities and vulnerable populations.  Ms. Sanchez holds a law degree from the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University and was admitted to practice law in 2021. 

Ms. Sanchez is an Associate Attorney at the Serrato Law Firm, located in Santa Ana, California.  She leads their Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) docket that focuses on immigration relief for undocumented youth who have been abandoned, neglected or abused by at least one of their parents.  Ms. Sanchez also dedicates a portion of her time as the Program Director at Community Lawyers, Inc. (CLI), a non-profit organization located in Compton, California.  The organization, founded in 2005, provides access to critical legal resources primarily to the communities of Compton, South Los Angeles, and Southeast Los Angeles County. Ms. Sanchez oversees CLI’s immigration and family law clinics that focus on empowering litigants to represent themselves in their legal matters.    

Ms. Sanchez was the recipient of the 2024 Pro Bono Volunteer of the Year Award from the Harriet Buhai Center for Family Law.  This award honors a volunteer lawyer who has provided substantial services on cases providing relief to clients who have greatly benefitted from in-court representation.  Ms. Sanchez continues to collaborate with the Harriet Buhai Center for Family Law as a pro bono attorney for victims of domestic violence in family court.