Sonia Eileen Fonticiella Rios

Sonia Eileen Fonticiella was raised in Paragould, Arkansas. Because most of her Cuban family lived in Miami, Florida she became an avid Florida State Seminole fan and attended the Florida State University where she received a Bachelors degree in English Literature and a Minor in Business.

After completing her undergraduate work, Sonia decided to return to Arkansas and began her law school career at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville where she earned her J.D. In 2008, Sonia moved to Phoenix, AZ where she attended the Sandra Day O'Conner College of Law at Arizona State University as a visiting student.

During law school, Sonia was very active in the student body and started the first Hispanic Student Bar Association at U of A, Fayetteville. She participated in negotiation, trial and moot court competitions. Sonia was also recognized for her participation in the 2008 Hispanic National Bar Associations Moot Court Competition. Through the Hispanic Student Bar Association, Sonia was able to reach out to the Hispanic community in Northwest Arkansas and was recognized with a Pro-Bono Service in the Community Award in April of 2008. Additionally, Sonia clerked at the Fayetteville City Prosecutor's Office where she gained invaluable criminal law experience. As a law clerk at the Law Office of Roy Petty, she gained a deep inside and knowledge into general immigration matters.

During her time at the Sandra Day O'Conner College of Law, she was accepted into the Immigration Law and Policy Clinic. There, she represented immigrant juveniles who had been abused, abandoned or neglected. After graduation, Sonia passed the Arizona and Arkansas bar and began working at Ryley, Carlock & Applewhite in the Document Control Division.

Upon moving back to Arkansas in August of 2011, Sonia began to pursue her dream of practicing in her own law firm. The doors of Fonticiella Law, PLLC opened in November of 2011 in El Dorado, Arkansas. In August of 2012, the office moved to Little Rock, Arkansas where Sonia now provides legal services to her clients in Central Arkansas.

Sonia practices in both federal and state court and is available for a free 30-minute consult with an appointment. 

Education

Florida State University, B.A. 2006
University of Arkansas Leflar School of Law, J.D. 2009

Memberships

Arkansas Bar Association

Arkansas Trial Lawyers Association 

Arkansas Association of Women Lawyers

Arkansas Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers