About Maria Santos

Maria L. Santos has practiced law in Massachusetts since 1988 and has over 25 years of experience practicing exclusively in immigration law with focus on employment and family based immigration as well as naturalization. She is a member of the Massachusetts Bar and the U.S. District Court of Massachusetts. Maria’s clients are local, national and international, representing companies of various sizes in industries such as technology, health care, and engineering services.

Education
​Boston College Law School, Boston, Massachusetts
J.D., Doctor of Jurisprudence – 1988

Rivier College, Nashua, New Hampshire
B.S. – 1985
Honors: summa cum laude

Bar Admission
Massachusetts, 1988

Classes & Seminars
MCLE Presentation – What Employment Lawyers Need to Know About Other Practice Areas—Immigration Pitfalls, February 15, 2011 live and webcast
College Instructor: Adjunct faculty member at Rivier College in the Paralegal Studies Program early 1990’s. Courses taught: Introduction to Paralegal Studies, Legal Research and Writing and Advanced Legal Research and Writing

​Community Service
Rectora for Peace/Emmaus movement(a Retreat for ages 19-29)
Coach for the Lowell Catholic High School Mock Trial Team 1991-1996
Citizenship Program Volunteer through MAPS – preparing individuals from various cultures for naturalization
Co-organizer and Creator: Go the Distance, a self-awareness workshop for teenagers in Lowell schools (sponsored by Middlesex Community College)
Member of the “Motivators” in the Portuguese-American Lowell community. This group was funded by the Luso American Foundation to motivate community voting by Portuguese-Americans.

Representative Clients
Small Businesses, Major Corporations, Individuals

Professional Associations
American Immigration Law Association (AILA), Member, 1996 – Present
Massachusetts Bar Association (MBA), Member
New England Human Resources Association (NEHRA), Member
Town Representative Precinct 8, Chelmsford, MA since 2017
School Committee Elected Member April 2019 to present, Chelmsford, MA
Naveo Credit Union – Board Chair, 2007 – 2017
Chelmsford Council of Schools, President, 2012 – 2019
Chelmsford English Language Learners Council for Chelmsford Public Schools District – appointed 2018
Center Elementary School Chelmsford, MA, PTO President 2011 to 2013
McCarthy Middle School Chelmsford MA, PTO President 2013 – 2017
St. Jeanne D’Arc Independent Catholic School (Elementary school) member Board of Trustees 2011 – 2013
Director for the Board of MAPS (1999-2000)
Member of the Paralegal Advisory Board Members for the Rivier College Paralegal Program
Secretary on the Executive Committee of the Alumni Board of Trustees, Rivier College 1995; Board Member 1994 – 1998
AILA NE member of the Legislative Committee 2020 – 2021

​Past Positions
Korde & Santos , 1988 to 1995