Monica Oca Howell

Biography

Monica Oca Howell is a Senior Immigration Attorney who has specialized in humanitarian and family-based immigration law for over eleven years. Prior to joining Stouffer Law, Monica served as the Supervising Attorney for the Attorney of the Day (“AOD”) Program, housed within the Justice & Diversity Center of the Bar Association of San Francisco.

As the program’s Supervising Attorney, Monica trained and onboarded volunteer attorneys who provided counsel and limited scope representation to pro se respondents in removal proceedings before the San Francisco Immigration Court. Monica also participated in nationwide efforts to protect the interests of the immigrant community, including advocating against the Dedicated Docket and promoting legislation that would increase access to counsel.

Monica is the proud daughter of immigrants from the Philippines. Her mother left her home country in the late 1960s to work as a schoolteacher in Iowa, and was later able to petition her entire family to come to the United States. Monica is inspired every day by the challenges that her mom overcame to live and thrive in the U.S. She is deeply passionate about the practice of immigration law and is dedicated to providing quality legal representation to her clients.

Monica is a California native and is fluent in Spanish.

Education

University of San Francisco School of Law, San Francisco, California
- J.D. – 2011
University of California, Davis
- B.A. – 2001
- Major: Spanish and Comparative Literature

Bar Admissions

California
U.S. Court of Appeals 9th Circuit
U.S. District Court Northern District of California

Practice Areas

Immigration

Classes, Seminars and Publications

Panelist, Universal Declaration of Human Rights Working Group Roundtable, ABA International LawSection and Paris Bar Association’s Celebrating the 75th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 2023
Panelist, Friend of Court Programs and Limited Scope Representation in Immigration Court, American Immigration Lawyers Association’s Annual Conference, 2024

Honors

Minority Bar Coalition Unity Award, Northern California Chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, 2024
Fellowship for the Leadership Education for Attorney Development (“LEAD”) Program, sponsored by the California Asian Pacific American Bar Association, 2021

Current Employment Position

Senior Attorney

Professional Associations

Minority Bar Coalition Board of Directors Co-Chair
Filipino Bar Association of Northern California
University of San Francisco School of Law Board of Governors
Member of American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), National, Co-Director of AILA’s Asian Interest Group
Member of American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), Office of the Principal Legal Advisor (OPLA) Co-Liaison, 2022-Present
Member of American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), Justice & Diversity Center Co-Liaison, 2020-2022
Member of American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), New Members Division Co-Coordinator, 2016-2018

You’re in the right place if you are thinking about reaching out for help, want to understand your options, or just want to know more about working with us. Here is a brief overview of what you can expect when you begin your journey with Stouffer Law.

Accreditations

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1. Intake Screening to Understand Your Unique Circumstances and Needs

When you first contact us, whether by phone, email, or through our website form, you will be greeted by our compassionate and caring intake team.

Their role is to listen, understand your situation, and determine whether your case falls within our areas of expertise.

If your matter is something we can assist with, our intake team will guide you toward the next step: scheduling a consultation with one of our experienced immigration attorneys. Consultations are primarily available via video conference with some availability for in-person meetings at our Berkeley, California office.

If we are not the right fit for your case, we will still do our best to point you in the right direction by offering referrals to other offices or organizations that may be able to help. Our goal is always to support you, even if it means connecting you elsewhere.

2. In-Depth Consultation With an Experienced Immigration Attorney

Once your consultation is scheduled, our intake team will send you a confirmation email with a Zoom link (or in-person details if you prefer to meet in our Berkeley office).

To make sure we can provide you with the most personalized legal advice, you will complete a short online questionnaire and upload relevant documents before the meeting. This preparation allows your attorney to carefully review your situation ahead of time, so your consultation can focus on clear guidance, tailored recommendations, and answering your most pressing questions.

Our initial consultation fee is $400, payable online prior to the meeting.
You will arrive at your consultation knowing your attorney is ready to support you in making the best decisions for yourself and your family.

3. Working With Our Team on Your Immigration Matter

If you decide to move forward with us, we will send your contract electronically for review and signature, along with instructions for submitting your deposit.

Once these steps are completed, your case officially begins.

You will be paired with both a lead attorney and lead paralegal, but you will also have the full support of the entire Stouffer Law team. This includes attorneys with decades of experience in immigration, including a Certified Specialist in Immigration Law with the California State Bar, experienced immigration paralegals, and dedicated support staff.

We work collaboratively, which means you always have a team behind you, responding whenever you have questions or new circumstances you want to discuss.

Our hands-on approach and deep engagement in the broader immigration community keep us at the forefront of changes in immigration law and policy, allowing us to navigate any shifts in your case with confidence and care.

As soon as you hire us, we will walk you through a thorough onboarding process. This will help you understand how we communicate, what steps to expect, and how we work efficiently and effectively on your behalf. From the first day to the last when we celebrate together, we will be with you at every stage of the journey.