Meet the Murthy Law Firm: Katrina Abarcar
14 May 2019The dedicated team of attorneys, paralegals, and support staff at the Murthy Law Firm is integral to our success. Day after day, they help to fulfill the dreams of our readers through their integrity, diligence, and commitment to excellence. To introduce our readers to the dozens of individuals who come together to make our clients and our firm successful, we periodically present one of our exceptional team members. This entry in our continuing Meet the Murthy Law Firm series shines the spotlight on an attorney in our General Legal Department, Katrina Abarcar.
Katrina and her parents immigrated to the United States from the Philippines when she was a toddler, and she grew up with a foot in two different cultures. “… I was brought up with Filipino values that didn’t always coincide with American values. I think one fundamental difference is the focus on family in Filipino culture. Family comes first, and your personal interest and desires come second.”
In high school, Katrina thought she would follow in her mother’s footsteps and pursue a career with the World Bank. However, her priorities changed when she developed a passion for anti-racism activism and joined a Women of Color collective as well as a Filipino organization that focused on social and political justice in the Philippines. “We asked: ‘Why are our families here? What made them search for greener pastures elsewhere? Why can’t you find greener pastures in the Philippines?’ Some of this had to do with international development policies set by institutions like the World Bank. That realization changed what I wanted to do.”
After graduating from college with a degree in political science, Katrina began working at the Center for Economic Justice, an international nongovernmental organization in Washington D.C. “I co-coordinated a campaign there called the World Bank Bonds Boycott, which was trying to get creditor nations to cancel the onerous debts of developing countries, and make sure that international support actually would benefit the people in the country, not just the big economic interests. My mom had retired by then, but she was still a little embarrassed in front on her World Bank friends!” After taking a few years off to raise her children, Katrina found a new position as a paralegal at the Murthy Law Firm. Katrina quickly realized that she could help people build a better life. “… It’s great to be here. It’s a place where I can work with international people and really provide them with a valuable service.”
Katrina excelled as a paralegal in the Murthy Law Firm’s Green Card Department, but she realized she could help more people by taking on greater responsibilities. So, while continuing to work full time at the firm, she also enrolled in law school, and was awarded a Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Maryland, Francis King Carey School of Law. Now, Katrina is serving as attorney on the same types of immigration cases she spent years working on as a paralegal. And while her job title may have changed, her appreciation for the supportive work atmosphere fostered by the Murthy Law Firm has not. “They give us the resources, skills, and training to do our jobs well. I feel I’m equipped to serve our clients in the best way possible.”
Copyright © 2019, MURTHY LAW FIRM. All Rights Reserved