Our Team
Attorney
Laura Wilson
Laura Wilson has helped hundreds of clients to navigate complex immigration systems to meet their goals, reunite with family members, and achieve greater safety and stability. A former Community Organizer, Laura decided to attend law school after participating in local immigrant rights movements for equal access to higher education and immigration law reform.
Laura is a graduate of the University of Minnesota Law School (2012) and holds a B.A. in Social Justice from Hamline University (2005). Prior to joining JP Larson Law Office, LLC, Laura represented immigration law clients in private practice and as a staff attorney at Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid (MMLA). After gaining experience working with domestic violence survivors and unaccompanied children at MMLA, Laura joined Global Rights for Women, working locally and internationally to improve legal system responses to gender-based violence. Laura has taught law students as an Adjunct Professor for the Detainee Rights Clinic at the University of Minnesota Law School. Previously, Laura served as a Board Member of the Minnesota Freedom Fund, where she helped to launch one of the first immigration bond funds in the United States. In 2021, Laura joined J.P. Larson Law Office, LLC, and in 2024, she became the firm’s new owner as founder Jeff Larson prepared for retirement. Laura is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association. She is fluent in Spanish, and has studied in Mexico and lived in Guatemala.
Senior Legal Assistant
Ivette Gonzalez
Ivette Gonzalez is a graduate of the University of Minnesota (2022) and holds a B.A. in Global Studies and a minor in Asian and Middle Eastern Studies with a focus in Human Rights and Social Justice in East Asia (magna cum laude, high distinction). During her undergraduate program, Ivette worked alongside the Director for Undergraduate Studies at the Institute for Global Studies as peer advisor, grant writer, and was a member of the Institute for Global Studies' Student Advisory Board. Ivette also completed an internship with the Advocates for Human Rights, working on the Nepal School Project and with the International Justice Program. Ivette is involved with Rotary International and is a Rotex to South Korea (2017–2018). Currently, she is Orientation Chair and Outbound Officer on the Rotex Leadership Board. Ivette is fluent in English and Spanish and is advanced in conversational Korean. Ivette is passionate about serving underrepresented communities; particularly those where a person's immigration status is a barrier to their access to basic necessities. She is committed to helping our clients navigate immigration systems and ensuring they feel supported throughout their case. In the future, Ivette plans to pursue a career in international human rights and humanitarian law.
Legal Assistant
Dany Ruiz Nicolas
Dany is the heart of our day-to-day operations, serving as both Office Manager and Legal Assistant. She efficiently manages our office, ensures smooth communication between clients and staff, and addresses client needs with unwavering dedication. Her commitment to the immigrant community is deeply personal, reflecting her own experiences. Born in Oaxaca, Mexico, and raised in Minneapolis, MN, Dany is a native Spanish speaker who intimately understands the challenges faced by our clients. Passionate about advocacy, she is devoted to supporting immigrants and aspires to further her impact in the field and community. Her passionate and empathetic nature makes her an invaluable asset to both our firm and our clients.
Retired Founder
Jeff Larson
Jeff Larson founded J.P. Larson Law Office, LLC in 2004. Over the past 20 years, Jeff helped countless clients to reunite with family members, attain freedom from persecution, and improve their quality of life in the United States. He has represented multiple generations of many families from all over the world. Jeff has had a diverse immigration practice, focusing on family immigration, asylum, removal defense, and appeals. He contributed his skills as a pro bono attorney with organizations including the Advocates for Human Rights, Volunteer Lawyers Network and the Tibetan American Foundation of Minnesota. Jeff mentored other attorneys and paralegals throughout his career and hired Laura Wilson as his Associate in 2021. In 2024, Laura took ownership of the firm with Jeff’s support and mentorship. To his clients, Jeff states, “I am grateful to have been a part of your lives over the past 30 years, in bringing and keeping families together. I found my place in the legal profession practicing as an immigration attorney, of which I never tired. Best wishes to you all. Jeff”
