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