"Lawyers To The Rescue" Names Sheri Benchetrit And Antonio Revilla Lawyers Of The Month

Jan. 13, 2011 - PRLog -- MIAMI – Lawyers the Rescue, a non-denominational charitable organization created by lawyers committed to bringing legal assistance and humanitarian support to people around the world in times of crisis, has named Sheri A. Benchetrit, an immigration attorney with Stok & Associates, P.A. and Antonio Revilla, an immigration attorney, with the Revilla Law Firm “Lawyers of the Month.”

Benchetrit, is being recognized for her commitment to pro bono service and for the time she generously dedicated to helping elderly clients with renewals of their green cards.  

“When Lawyers to the Rescue contacted Sheri to ask if she can answer immigration status question over the telephone from a Haitian client of Camillus House, she not only agreed to answer his questions, she suggested that he make an appointment to see her in person,” said Spencer Aronfeld, cofounder of Lawyers to the Rescue. “Sheri committed to answering all of his questions and to helping him with his status, and she did.”  

Benchetrit has also volunteered with local high schools and junior high schools to provide answers to any questions the students may have about their Temporary Protected Status (TPS) or other immigration issues.  She has also been dedicated to providing the Orthodox Jewish Community with immigration advice and appearing in court on behalf of those in the religious community who cannot afford counsel.  

Benchetrit has been in practice for more than eighteen years.  She currently focuses her practice exclusively on Immigration and Nationality Law.   She earned a juris doctorate from The University of Detroit School of Law in 1992 and spent a term abroad studying International Law and Human Rights.  During her time abroad, she clerked for a Member of British Parliament in addition to her studies.

During her years of practice, Benchetrit was chosen by the Chief Judge of the 47th District Court to be one of three Magistrates for the cities of Farmington and Farmington Hills, Michigan.  She held this position for 3 years, and was a member of the Michigan Association of District Court Magistrates until she moved with her husband and children to the Miami area in 2006.  

Benchetrit continues to be licensed in the State of Michigan where she spent most of her career.  While in Michigan, she was also a member of the Family Law Section of the Michigan State Bar Association and lectured the Bar on Hague International Child Abduction Treaty law.  She has argued Hague International Child Abduction Treaty cases before the Federal District Court.

In her capacity as Of Counsel with Stok & Associates, P.A., Benchetrit practices only Immigration and Nationality law. She has handled cases involving all aspects of immigration including, family-based immigration, employment-based visas, business planning and compliance issues, removal proceedings, waivers, administrative and judicial appeals, specialized visas and citizenship/naturalization cases. More information available at www.stoklaw.com

Revilla also was selected for his exemplary commitment to community and pro bono service.  

“When Antonio learned of our first legal clinic at Camillus House, he was one of the first lawyers to volunteer his time and talents,” said Dina Aronfeld, cofounder of Lawyers to the Rescue. “He was there at the legal clinic, meeting with the homeless at Camillus House, answering immigration legal question and making sure that they not only get answers to their questions, but direction on what to do next.  Also, Antonio was willing to go the extra step and follow up on those who needed it or refer them to a pro bono legal service to help with their case.”

Revilla is a former U.S. Immigration Prosecutor with the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) and a founding member of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). He is a former Assistant Public Defender in Miami-Dade County and was a Trial Attorney with the Department of Justice in Miami.

Revilla is the Founder and President of Revilla Law Firm, and is an Officer of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), South Florida Chapter. His work with AILA was instrumental in bringing reform and changes to deportation and immigration policy, in general. Revilla has made it his mission to educate the public on the benefits of Immigration Reform and the Dream Act.

Revilla has published articles on waivers for criminal and non-criminal aliens. He has presented at conferences in the areas of removal proceedings, deportation cases, and waivers of removal and inadmissibility. Revilla has also appeared on numerous television programs and provided commentary in major news publications.

Revilla has successfully helped countless illegal immigrants remain in the United States through aggressive and creative litigation, utilizing waivers, legal argument, and various benefits under the Immigration and Nationality Act. You can learn more at www.immigrationmiami.com.

Founded by South Florida attorney Spencer Aronfeld and his wife Dina, Lawyers To The Rescue assists those in need regardless of their race, religion, sexual orientation or political affiliation. The organization was created in response to the earthquake in Haiti where more than 230,000 people died and more than one million people were left homeless.

Lawyers to the Rescue recently held a legal clinic for the homeless at the Camillus House in downtown Miami. The organization also assisted in the construction of a Habitat for Humanity home and held fundraisers for earthquake disaster relief efforts in Chile and Haiti. It has also has a new student chapter at the Florida International University School of Law. For more information about the organization, visit: www.lawyerstotherescue.org or email dinaaronfeld@lawyerstotherescue.org.

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