Life and Work with Rocio Cervantes

Today we’d like to introduce you to Rocio Cervantes.

Rocio, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I was born in a tiny town called Rincon de Tamayo in Guanajuato, Mexico. I’m the middle child of five kids. My parents moved us all to the United States to live the big dream. Get educated. Get a good career. Inspire and help others. Overall, live a better life.

I graduated top 10% of my class from R.L.Turner high school in 2007. I applied and received a full paid scholarship from the Hispanic Scholarship Fund (H.S.F.) to attend the University of Texas at Dallas (UTD).

In college, I joined and was an active member of organizations like League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), Ladies of Vision and Excellence (L.O.V.E.), and Model United Nations. These organizations honed the skills that today define who I am as a young Latina lawyer. Those skills bring confidence, responsibility, communication, positivity, and creativity. I graduated with honors cum laude from UTD in 2010.

In 2011, I moved myself to Houston to attend Thurgood Marshall School of Law. I graduated with honors magna cum laude from law school in 2014 and moved back to Dallas to start work for a criminal law firm in Denton, Texas. After practicing criminal law for a little over a year I moved to Dallas and now practice primarily family law at the law office of O’Neil Wysocki, P.C. At O’Neil Wysocki, I work alongside an amazing team, Victoria Cernadas, and Cristian Caballero, who are experienced paralegals. Together, we strive for winning results.

My family, life experiences, employment opportunities, and people I’ve come across have all helped to shape who I am today. I am confident, ambitious, hard-working and driven. These have always been defining character traits within me that has been fine-tuned throughout my life. I love what I do and I’m good at what I do. I love being in the courtroom and advocating for my clients and their cases. There are a couple of reasons why I stick out among my lawyer peers and that’s mainly because I don’t do things the conventional way, I’ve carved a lane all for myself, and I get winning results as a young Latina lawyer.

I’ve not tied myself down to just that title of being a Latina lawyer I am also a daughter, a sister, a friend, an auntie, a world-traveler, and so much more. I’m family-oriented and so when I’m not in the courtroom or at the office I’m spending quality time with my family and good friends.

Throughout my life, I’ve strived to obtain the big dream. To get educated and get a good career in which I can help others. As a Latina lawyer, I’m able to do just that.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
The best advice my mom gave me was life is tough but you are tougher.

I wasn’t born into a life of luxury but I made do with what I had and when life was tough I always kept it moving. And that’s what young women need to be these days they need to be scrappy. Young women need to be willing to take risks and put themselves out there. They need to have the steely resolve of a street fighter and stick to their guns even if they are shaking in their boots. Why, because life is tough but we are tougher.

There’s been challenging times in my life. Law school was tough. Being away from my family was tough. Having to work multiple jobs while in law school was tough.

Finding my first job out of law school was tough.

My current job is tough. On paper, I have an 8-5 pm job. In reality, I’m working past 8 pm and on the weekends drafting petitions and motions, responding to client emails and calls, preparing for hearings and trials. Life is not smooth sailing and when you accept that fact, you learn not to harbor on the obstacles but to keep it moving.

I wouldn’t change anything about my life. It’s tough but so is everyone else’s life. So, just keep it moving and learn to be scrappy.

What do you do, what do you specialize in, what are you known for, etc. What are you most proud of? What sets you apart from others?
I practice primarily family law which involves divorce, child custody, possession and access, child support, name changes, and adoptions and terminations.

What sets me and my awesome team is our dedication to obtaining winning results for our clients. We don’t go home until the work is done.

There’s a wealth of academic research that suggests that a lack of mentors and networking opportunities for women has materially affected the number of women in leadership roles. Smart organizations and industry leaders are working to change this, but in the meantime, do you have any advice for finding a mentor and building a network?
I’m all about books that give wisdom to living a better life. For example, The Daily Stoic by Ryan Holiday and How to Stop Worrying and Start Living by Dale Carnegie.

I’m also into books that help perfect my craft of advocating. For example, Influence by Robert Cialdini.

Pricing:

• $275.00 cost for consultation either by phone or in-person

Contact Info:

• Address: 5323 Spring Valley Rd #150, Dallas, TX 75254
• Website: www.owlawyers.com
• Phone: 972-852-8000
• Email: Rocio@owlawyers.com
• Instagram: RCervanteslaw
• Facebook: www.latinalawyer.com

Image Credit:
Rocio Cervantes, Victoria Cernadas

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