About Mindy
Mindy Taira-Kaplan has been practicing immigration law since 2013. Prior to starting her own practice, Mindy worked at a deportation defense firm in Oakland, California, and a small private law practice in Berkeley, California, representing clients in removal proceedings before the Immigration Court, as well as with asylum, family-based petitions, waivers, adjustment of status, VAWA, U visa applications, DACA, and Advance Parole applications.
Mindy graduated cum laude from University of California, Hastings College of the Law. While earning her law degree, she participated in the Immigrants’ Rights Clinic and the Workers’ Rights Clinic where she assisted individuals to exercise their legal rights in the workplace. She also successfully assisted numerous affirmative asylum applicants in their asylum interviews while interning at the East Bay Sanctuary Covenant. Before attending law school, Mindy earned her Bachelor degree in Studio Art from New York University and studied abroad in London. She exhibited her paintings and photographs in galleries in New York, Berlin, and Vienna.
Mindy became interested in advocating on behalf of immigrants after working in the restaurant industry in New York City. Mindy admires the bravery and strength of her clients who made the difficult decision to leave their home countries and rebuild their lives in the United States and is honored to be able to assist them in finding a path to legal status.
Mindy is admitted to the Bar of the Supreme Court of California, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, and the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. She is also a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association and the National Lawyers Guild.
Mindy speaks Spanish fluently.
In her spare time, Mindy enjoys spending time with her family, including her 3-year-old son, baking, hiking, and photography.