J.J. Despain is a managing attorney in Boise for W&O’. He is admitted to the Colorado State Bar and practices mostly family-based and employment-based immigration law. J.J. has represented clients in over 100 interviews with USCIS. He has participated in events at community centers in both Utah and Idaho to present issues in immigration law and speak about the many possibilities available to potential clients. J.J. graduated from Brigham Young University, where he earned a bachelor of arts in communications with an emphasis in print journalism. He spent two years as an opinions editor, sports editor, and web editor for the campus newspaper, The Daily Universe. J.J. also earned minors in both Spanish and political science. After his undergraduate studies, J.J. attended law school at the University of Iowa College of Law. In Iowa, J.J. was the president of the student chapter of the J. Reuben Clark Law Society, a managing editor of the Iowa Law Review, a judicial clerk for the Honorable Stephanie M. Rose of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa, and was involved with the Latino Law Students Association and Sports Law Society.

J.J. previously worked with Catholic Charities of Central Texas in Austin, Texas, where he led the office’s DACA renewal process for clients, and also assisted with U-visas and I-601A waivers. He also worked in Austin with Texas RioGrande Legal Aid on cases involving housing disputes. Back in Iowa City, J.J. assisted with Cole & Vondra, PC, in putting on Know Your Rights seminars for the local immigrant community, and with the Iowa Legal Aid Pro Bono Project.

In his spare time, J.J. enjoys spending time with his wife and four children, exploring the Idaho outdoors, drawing, watching sports (especially BYU), and watching movies. J.J. and his family live in Boise.