Influential Woman · Legal Services
Virginia Gorostiaga, Esq.
Founder / Principal Attorney, Gorostiaga Law Firm PLLC
Elizabeth, NJ 07208
Her Story
About Virginia
Virginia Gorostiaga, Esq. is the founder and principal attorney of Gorostiaga Law Firm PLLC, a boutique immigration law firm she established in 2022. Based in the New York and New Jersey area, she advises corporations, entrepreneurs, investors, individuals, and families on complex immigration matters, with a particular focus on business and employment-based immigration, visa strategy, waivers, family-based immigration, and naturalization. Her earlier experience in commercial litigation and corporate law informs her strategic, litigation-conscious approach to immigration cases, allowing her to anticipate risks and develop solutions aligned with her clients’ broader goals.
Virginia earned her bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of North Carolina Asheville, graduating Cum Laude with departmental distinction, before earning her Juris Doctor from DePaul University College of Law, where she graduated Magna Cum Laude and was a member of the Order of the Coif. Her professional and community work reflects a longstanding commitment to advocacy and service. She provides pro bono representation through Kids in Need of Defense (KIND), particularly for unaccompanied minors in Special Immigrant Juvenile matters, and has mentored minority students at local schools, including NJIT. Her commitment to helping others extends to supporting minorities and women pursuing entrepreneurship and navigating the challenges of building businesses.
Beyond her legal career, Virginia is passionate about music, storytelling, literature, theater, and creative technology. As a mother to a young son, she created a YouTube channel featuring music inspired in part by her childhood, along with animated and AI-generated music and videos, reflecting her interest in combining creativity and technology. She also enjoys spending time with her family and her French Bulldog. Virginia encourages women entering professional environments not to be intimidated by being the only woman or person of their background in the room, but to recognize that such experiences can become part of their journey. Through her legal practice, community involvement, and creative pursuits, she continues to combine advocacy, curiosity, resilience, and a commitment to helping others move forward.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Virginia
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to grit, faith in God, persistence, and the determination to overcome obstacles and keep moving forward.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I’ve received is to put my head down and do the work. While workplace politics and red tape are sometimes unavoidable, strong work, meaningful results, and what I produce are what ultimately stand the test of time.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering my industry is not to underestimate themselves. Find work that genuinely interests and motivates you, and remember that your career can evolve. Be willing to pivot, adapt, and use the skills you develop to meet new opportunities and the changing needs of the world.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
I see AI as both the biggest challenge and opportunity in my field. It can process vast amounts of information and quickly analyze complex legal codes and statutes, which is incredibly powerful. At the same time, its rapid development may require changes in how we interpret and apply existing laws and case law.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me are justice, confidence, hard work, integrity, and service. I strive to advocate for fair and just outcomes, work efficiently and thoughtfully, and provide meaningful value to my clients. Most importantly, I want to earn their trust and treat every client the way I would want to be treated in a similar situation.
Join Influential Women and start making an impact. Register now.