Student Spotlight Veronica Morales

A Long Island native, Veronica Morales balances her legal studies with a paralegal career in immigration law. Beyond her extensive campus leadership, she is a published researcher who advocates for the health and legal rights of vulnerable Latino communities. Driven by her heritage, Veronica is dedicated to using her degree to challenge systemic barriers and fight for access to justice.

Veronica Morales was born and raised on Long Island. She did not grow up in a family of lawyers but instead discovered the legal field on her own. The first time she remembers expressing her goal to become a lawyer was in 6th grade. She recalls, “I interviewed the attorney at my dad’s corporate office for a school assignment regarding our dream career. Despite no direct connection to lawyers, from a young age, my dad, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, instilled in me the importance of rules and order, while my mom, a level-headed problem-solver, taught me to think critically about right and wrong and the proportionality of punishment.”

From her childhood foundation and several experiences in various legal settings, Veronica’s interest in law continued to grow. She studied Criminology and Criminal Justice in college and held an internship and various jobs related to law that helped reinforce her early aptitude toward a career in law, and, ultimately, her decision to enroll in law school.
Veronica is a 3L in Touro Law’s full-time day program and works as a paralegal at an immigration law firm. She is active on campus and holds various executive board positions in numerous student organizations including: Vice President of the Public Interest Law Organization of Touro, Vice President of the Latin American Law Student Association, Vice President of the Suffolk County Bar Association Student Committee, Clerk of Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity, Touro Chapter, and Treasurer of Criminal Law Society. She was also awarded the CALI Excellence for the Future Award in the Immigrant Rights & Advocacy Clinic in Fall 2025.

Veronica’s interest in immigration law and public health was sparked by conversations with her older sister Vanessa, a PhD candidate studying prevention science and community health. “Although our academic paths differ, we are both drawn to studying systems that directly affect people’s well-being. Together, we discussed how recent shifts in immigration policy have tangible health consequences and, with this research team, developed discussions to highlight the lasting effects these policies may have on mothers and children.”

And the sisters’ collaboration didn’t end there.

It turns out Vanessa’s mentor was the lead author in a study and had previously authored a paper discussing the impact of policies on Latina mothers and was looking to publish another piece. Vanessa got Veronica involved in the process. She worked collaboratively with researchers to develop a paper that was then published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. The paper examines how immigration policies, particularly public charge determinations, shape maternal and child health outcomes in Latino communities. It explains how conditioning access to healthcare on immigration status disproportionately harms these communities, creating fragmented eligibility rules, exclusionary policies, and a climate of fear that delays critical healthcare. Beyond the academic implications, this topic felt deeply personal given the Morales sisters’ Colombian and Dominican heritage.

To students beginning their law school journey, Veronica offers this advice, “Always stay curious, open-minded, and persistent. While law school can be intimidating, it is important to stay grounded in your own success rather than comparing yourself against others. Explore different areas, learn from mentors, and discover where you can make the most impact. Take every opportunity to get hands-on experience and follow the areas of law that truly resonate with you. Trust yourself and your abilities to make a positive impact!”

As for her future, Veronica intends to use her law degree to advocate for others. She says, “I'm drawn to work that allows me to directly advocate for clients, fight for access to justice, and challenge systems that create barriers for vulnerable communities.”