Associate

Bar admissions: New Jersey

Education:

• 2003 JD The George Washington University Law School, Washington, D.C.
• 2000 Bachelor's in Foreign Languages and Literatures (Spanish, German, Chinese) University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware
• 2000 Study Abroad Program, Spring Semester, Bayreuth University, Bayreuth, Germany
• 1998 Study Abroad Program, Spring Semester, Blas Pascal University, Córdoba, Argentina
• 1997 Study Abroad Program, Fall Semester, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China

Experience: Marlena's practice is focused on Immigration. She directs both the Immigration practice as well as the New Jersey practice in our firm.

Before joining Arrufat Gracia, PLLC, Marlena owned and operated an immigration solo law practice in Rutherford, NJ. In addition, she served as Alternate Public Defender for the town of Rutherford from 2008-2010. Prior to opening her own practice, Marlena had also worked for Fragomen, Del Rey Bernsen & Loewy, LLP and other firms providing support for visa departments. During law school, she served as a student attorney in the school's Jacob Burns Community Legal Clinic for immigration. Marlena interned at Greenberg Traurig LLP as well as for the Hon. William C. Meehan, PJSC.

Membership Associations: Marlena is a member of the Bergen County Bar Association and American Immigration Lawyers Association.

Foreign Languages: Spanish, German, Chinese