We had the good fortune of connecting with Joanna Delfunt and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Joanna, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I was fortunate to have had a relatively uneventful life as a I grew up. My parents were married and in love. They were safe and loved my sister and me well. My parents worked hard, multiple jobs, to provide for us and our needs. We were happy. My parents encouraged me, and when I said I wanted to be a lawyer as a young child, they would drive me to a local courthouse to watch the simplest traffic violations be paid in court, which I found riveting. My life was simple. Then, in 2014, my life was altered in a dramatic, painful way, and the trajectory I was on shifted entirely. My sister passed away, I had a newborn and I lost my job all within a two month period. From there, I started working far from home for a new firm and quickly realized after about a year that the long hours and commute were not sustainable in the middle of grief and in the middle of my child’s first year. I needed something different to survive emotionally. I wanted to stay in the immigration field but I needed a shorter commute; I met with a colleague of mine who did immigration in Cumming. From there, she decided to help me start my own practice while she phased hers out, and God just showed up like he always does. I started my firm in 2016, and God has been in every single moment along the way.
Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
My firm tagline is “bringing hope and clarity to the immigrant community”, and I strive to do that. I worked at a larger firm for a while where the consultations were 5 minutes after clients had waited hours for a consult, and I knew I wanted to be different. I understand consults can’t last for hours and we shouldn’t over-explain complex things to clients but I also know the importance of giving truth to people and making sure they no longer have doubts. I want to make sure they are clear (clarity) when they leave me and also understand despite what immigration does or does not do, God is in control and God is the miracle worker. That likely sounds ridiculous to someone who doesn’t believe God is real, but immigration is a depressing world for many, and I’m not willing to continue that cycle for clients or potential clients. From my office, I want people to leave with hope, with joy, with peace that only God can bring.
One of my greatest achievements is in a recent win. I became an immigration attorney originally because I wanted to help human trafficking victims. I had worked in Cambodia at an aftercare organization for sex trafficking survivors and I knew my career had to help in this field. Now, I have fallen in love with this area of law but when a trafficking visa (T-visa) case comes across my desk, my heart flutters. I have that feeling of purpose, of completion, of affirmation that I am where I need to be. I recently won a trafficking visa case for the most deserving client, someone that did not come to me to help her with this. We heard it in her story (God brought it to our attention) and we asked the right questions. The more we heard, the more we knew we were right and we could help her. The case was approved and now we are moving on to get her a green card. I am in awe of God’s goodness in my life and how He has helped guide me through my cases.
If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Hmm… this is a little difficult. I am a mom to two children and I live about an hour from Atlanta. I don’t like going to ATL. When I have had friends come in town, I generally like to go to typical outdoor venues for shopping and eating. Avalon in Alpharetta is one of my favorite local spots, and Halcyon is also a great place for dinner and live music at night. The Greenway is my absolutely favorite place in Cumming. Being outside is so important for our mental sanity, and I love bringing my kids and dogs and running/walking/riding bikes on the Greenway.
Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Can there be more than one? I have three, if that’s possible.
(1) Elizabeth Matherne
Elizabeth Matherne helped me start my practice and at every part of the last six years has provided endless encouragement, prayer and a willingness to listen in the darkest of times. She was phasing out her practice when I wanted to amp mine up, so she helped me with how to run the practice and referred me cases while I helped her with overhead costs and taking care of cases that needed immediate attention. We took care of one another and as our friendship grew, I realized so much of my success was due to her encouragement and advice. I would not be who I am without her.
(2) Noemi Puntier
Noemi has been a friend and colleague, more like a sister, for as long as I have been practicing law. I know that I can call her in any emergency and she would drop anything to show up for me. Years ago, I was struggling to make a staffing decision in my office, and it was something I was losing sleep over, sweating over, shedding some tears over. This job takes so much out of us! I called her and asked if she would have coffee with me and help me talk it out. She immediately agreed and her advice that day saved my business and my sanity. She spoke the truth to me, in love, and challenged me. I will never forget that day at the coffee shop, and I hope I can do the same for others coming up behind me as I forge forward.
(3) Jentzen Franklin
My pastor. Perhaps an odd person to have on here. Not a colleague or friend. He doesn’t know who I am. Nonetheless, I am shocked at how much his truth and his ear to hear what the Lord is speaking has impacted me over the last two years. We started attending Free Chapel in September of 2020 when the church opened back up, and I have been transformed mentally and spiritually. I find myself listening to messages throughout the week to encourage myself and remind myself of who I am in Christ despite the insanity of the pandemic, the fear over running a business, the terror of ever-changing immigration law impacting my beloved clients, my own personal insecurity that I am not capable of doing what I do, etc. I need my mind right to do what I do, and being involved in my church keeps me mentally healthy. I am forever grateful to my church and my pastor, and I owe so much of what I am doing to God speaking to me through my pastor’s obedience and his sacrifice.
Website: www.delfuntlaw.com
Instagram: delfuntlaw
Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/joannadelfunt
Facebook: www.facebook.com/delfuntlaw
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXfDXWjqhmPud0gzHW-t8zA
Image Credits
Earthmama Photography