Victoria Adenuga’s career trajectory in immigration law represents a compelling narrative of professional development rooted in personal conviction and demonstrated expertise. At twenty-seven years old, this Nigerian-born legal professional has already established herself as a dedicated advocate for vulnerable immigrant populations, bringing a unique perspective shaped by her own migration experience. Her journey from undergraduate legal studies to her current position as a Law Graduate Fellow at Americans for Immigrants Justice (AIJ) in Miami, Florida exemplifies how emerging legal professionals can combine rigorous academic preparation with sustained practical commitment to advance access to justice in the immigration system.

Adenuga’s educational foundation was deliberately constructed to address immigration law specifically. After completing her Bachelor of Science in Legal Studies with a minor in Criminal Justice from Southeastern University in Lakeland, Florida in April 2021, she pursued advanced legal training at Southern Illinois University’s Simmons Law School. Throughout her three-year law degree program, she strategically selected coursework in Immigration Law and Asylum and Refugee Law, ensuring her academic preparation aligned with her professional aspirations. Her May 2025 graduation marked the completion of formal legal education, followed by preparation for the February 2026 Illinois bar examination. Beyond academics, her leadership as Vice President of the Black Law Student Association from 2023 to 2024 demonstrated her commitment to fostering inclusive legal education environments.

Her professional experience reflects a progressive deepening of expertise in immigration matters. Her international legal exposure commenced with an internship at Sina Maasen Rechtsanwalt in Aachen, Germany from April through July 2016, where she attended court proceedings, observed depositions, and managed administrative responsibilities. Upon returning to the United States, she pursued post-undergraduate employment at Glasser and Glasser PLC in Norfolk, Virginia from June through November 2021, serving in an administrative capacity for the legal filing team before transitioning to Claims Reviewer work at Brown Greer PLC in Richmond, Virginia. This position, held from November 2021 through June 2022, involved evaluating insurance claims arising from major California wildfires, including the 2015 Butte fire, 2017 North Bay fires, and 2018 campfire incidents.

Her law school experience included substantial clinical work that bridged academic instruction with real-world application. From January through May 2024, she served as a student volunteer with The Immigration Project in Bloomington, Illinois, gaining hands-on experience interviewing clients with the assistance of Spanish-English interpreters while learning to complete withholding of removal applications and Form I-589 petitions. Her clinical education continued through the SIU Civil Practice Clinic’s Estate Planning Law program from January through May 2025, where she served as a student attorney conducting client interviews, performing factual investigations, attending hearings with supervisors, and drafting essential legal documents including wills, powers of attorney, and guardianship instruments.

Since August 2025, Adenuga has served as a Law Graduate Fellow at Americans for Immigrants Justice, dividing her work between the organization’s Pro Bono Program during her first three months and the Family Defense Program in her ongoing role. Her contributions encompass multiple dimensions of immigrant advocacy. She conducts detailed country-conditions research to inform asylum applications and humanitarian immigration cases, including specific research on Haiti that she presented to colleagues. Her responsibilities include performing weekly courtroom and detention observations, operating the detention hotline to respond to inquiries, and assisting the Family Defense Hotline where she conducts client intakes and responds to immigrant families seeking removal defense or family-based immigration matter assistance. Beyond direct legal services, she has participated in the organization’s Family Preparedness workshops, supporting community members through citizenship application processes and explaining naturalization procedures. Her ongoing professional development is evidenced by her weekly attendance at immigration law lectures presented by immigration law professors, facilitating deeper understanding of immigration statutes and legal frameworks.

The significance of Adenuga’s work extends beyond individual case representation to systemic impact on immigrant communities. Her participation in community outreach and tabling events expands access to legal resources for underserved populations. Within the Family Defense Program, she contributes to case preparation through legal research and drafting, attends client consultation calls with supervising attorneys, and manages issue spotting and follow-up activities. Her current residence in Tampa, Florida positions her to serve immigrant populations in the southeastern United States during a critical juncture in her career development. As she prepares for bar admission in February 2026, her demonstrated commitment to immigration advocacy work suggests continued contributions to strengthening legal protections for vulnerable populations within the American immigration system. Her personal background as a migrant herself infuses her professional work with distinctive insight into the challenges immigrants navigate, positioning her to advance both individual client outcomes and broader systemic reforms in immigration practice.

Author: Marc Shawn