Raquel E. Hecht

Raquel E. Hecht has been an Immigration Lawyer in the State of Oregon since 1993. She is the founding partner of the law firm of Hecht & Norman, LLP, with offices in Eugene and Salem, Oregon. Her past activities include: Vice-President of the Lane Arts Council, Board Member of the Eugene Research Institute, Chair of the International Youth Exchange Committee for Rotary and Member of the Rotary International Friendship Exchange Committee for the District, Volunteer Reader at the French Immersion School, Member of the Education and Outreach Committee of the Human Rights Commission, Member of the Eugene Police Commission, Founding member of Grupo Latino de Accion Directa (GLAD), a non-profit organization dedicated to the promotion of underrepresented people in the political process.

Education

  • University of California, Los Angeles - J.D., 1993

  • University of California, Los Angeles - M.A. in Latin American Studies, 1990

  • New York University, New York - B.A. cum laude in Latin American Studies (minor in History), 1988

  • University of Paris, Sorbonne - Diploma in Advanced French composition, Art History and French History, Summer 1989

  • University of Sao Paulo, Brazil (Stanford University) - Academic year 1986-1987

  • New York University in Madrid, Spain - January-June 1986

  • University of Florence, Italy - Diploma in Advanced Italian Language and Composition, Art History, History. August-December 1985

  • University of Salamanca, Spain - Diploma in Advanced Spanish Language and History, Summer 1984

  • High School at Colegio Policursos, Mogi das Cruzes, Brazil - Major in Chemistry, 1983

Awards

  • 2022 Chief Justice (Oregon Supreme Court) Martha Walters Award for Social Justice

  • 2019 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Community Leader Award in recognition of contributions to human rights and races relations

  • 2018 Gerald H Robinson award from the American Immigration Lawyer’s Association for Excellence in Immigration Advocacy

  • 2018 Andrew J. Clement Award for Exceptional Services to Persons of Limited Means by the Lane County Bar Association

  • 2002 Women of Distinction Award from the Soroptimist Club of Eugene

Work Experience

  • Attorney, Eugene, Oregon - Specializing in Immigration Law 1993-present

  • Adjunct Professor, University of Oregon School of Law, Immigration Law 2002-2003

  • Jobs Coordinator at Centro Latino Americano, Eugene, Oregon - Worked with Latino clients on job skills, jobs outreach and legal aid intakes. November 1993 to February 1994

  • Intern at Chamber of Commerce, Bologna, Italy - Work in Economic Development department on issues involving trade and International law

  • Teaching Assistant at John Hopkins (SAIS) Program, Bologna, Italy - Assistant to Professor Paolo Mengozzi in European Community Law. October-December 1992

  • Intern for Congressman Ron Wyden, Portland (Minority Outreach) - Summer 1992

  • Tour Guide, Los Angeles - For Italian, French, Brazilian, Swedish, and Spanish-speaking tourists. March-October 1990

  • Computer Assistant, Stockholm, Sweden - Data entry, Summer 1988

  • Staff Organizer for Coalition ‘88 - In charge of Minority Outreach to the San Fernando Valley, California. August-November 1988

  • English Teacher, Mogi das Cruzes, Brazil - Taught English in private schools, 1983-1984

Languages

  • Spanish

  • English

  • Portuguese

  • Italian

  • French

Conversational:

  • Norwegian

  • Swedish

  • German

Additional Engagements:

  • Weekly radio show guest on Community Hour at Radio Unica on issues involving Immigration Law

  • Vice-president of GLAD (Grupo Latino de Accion Directa), a non-profit organization that strives to encourage and educate Latino members of the community on political and other issues of importance to the Latino community

  • La X Radio Station in Eugene; weekly guest speaker on Immigration Law from 2008-2009, also organized other guest speakers to speak at their community hour during this time

  • La Pantera Radio Station in Woodburn: Guest Speaker on their community hour once per month

  • Frequent lecturer at American Immigration Lawyer’s Association NW and national conferences, Oregon State Bar programs including the Women’s Bar program at the University of Oregon 2009, invited speaker to the Medford Bar in July, 2009, panel speaker at numerous events throughout Lane County at local churches and schools

  • Pro-bono advisor to school counselors throughout the area in the area of juvenile Immigration Law and frequent advisor to the Newport Hispanic Program on immigration law

  • Past legal advisor in Immigration Law to the Programa Hispano in Gresham, Oregon (1994-1996)

Other Appointments

  • Member of the Education and Outreach Committee of the Human Rights Commission, Eugene. June 1999-October 2002

  • Appointed to Oregon State Bar Ethics Committee 2018

  • Chair, NW Regional Conference Family/Removal Track CLE committee 2017-2018