MEET GARETH TURNBULL-BARR – Law Clerk

GARETH TURNBULL-BARR

Gareth works mainly on removal defense and immigration litigation at Brooks Law Firm, and he may take on business immigration cases in the future. He’ll become an Associate Attorney once he is sworn in.

Gareth first studied immigration as an undergraduate, learning from anthropologists, and that’s where his passion for immigrants’ rights began. He believes that building a better life in an unfamiliar country is an incredibly brave and difficult thing to do, and that everyone who attempts it deserves diligent legal help. He works by the words of Justice Thurgood Marshall: “The measure of a country’s greatness is its ability to retain compassion in time of crisis.”

In law school, Gareth worked with the Luis D. Brown Peace Institute, where he and his classmates wrote a report on how to access the state’s Victims of Violent Crime Fund. The institute still uses it to help clients get assistance when they need it most. One of his most memorable experiences came in October 2020, during a large surge in government filings, when he helped file hundreds of adjustment of status applications. Helping so many people take a major step toward citizenship at once was a rare and rewarding experience.

Gareth takes a “brick by brick” approach to client relationships: he builds trust through regular communication and reliable work. He believes every client deserves personal attention on their case. What he enjoys most about Brooks Law is the team structure. As he puts it, when everyone works together, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

Outside the office, Gareth spends time with his wife, Grace, and their dog, Finn, and he enjoys trying new recipes. He also plays on Northeastern’s first-ever law school alumni softball team.

His advice for everyone: attorneys aren’t just for people who’ve done something wrong. Talk to one before any decision with major legal or financial consequences, because a good attorney is on your side.