Robert F. Jacobs

Robert F. Jacobs is an immigration and criminal law attorney, and the founder of Robert F. Jacobs & Associates, PLC (formerly Jacobs & Vega, PLC).  He primarily handles immigration law matters for immigrants with criminal convictions specializing in deportation defense (detained and non-detained), complex naturalization/citizenship cases, crime victim visas (U visas), all levels of appeals, and family based visas.  He represents clients from Los Angeles and Orange Counties and throughout the United States. He has conducted nearly 1,000 bench trials while representing clients in 16 courthouses in seven different states.  His Appellate work has resulted in five published decisions and ten Oral Arguments before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.  With over 25 years of legal experience, he has received the honorable distinction of a Certified Specialist in Immigration law since 2007 by The State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization (under 3% of immigration attorneys have received this honor).

Additionally, since 1998, Robert Jacobs has been defending the rights of those accused or convicted of a crime.  Beyond traditional criminal defense, he conducts post-conviction relief motions (Motions to Vacate, etc.) and appeals in the California Superior Court.  He has conducted oral arguments in five different criminal appellate courts.  He also specializes as an expert consultant on the immigration consequences of criminal convictions.  Private criminal defense counsel hires Robert Jacobs to advise their clients of the immigration consequences of a plea bargain offer and collaborate to seek an "immigration-safe" alternate plea if necessary.  Robert Jacobs has won Criminal Motions to Vacate Convictions in ten different Counties throughout California including Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, Orange, Riverside, Contra Costa, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Kern, & Merced.

Mr. Jacobs is a member of the Executive Committee of the Immigration Law Section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association, and the Southeast District Bar Association, the Mexican American Bar Association and the American Immigration Lawyers Association. He is the Past-President of the Southeast District Bar Association.  He has been a moderator or speaker at over 16 Continuing Legal Education seminars teaching other lawyers about the practice of criminal and immigration law.  He was named by The National Trial Lawyers as a Top 100 Trial Lawyer and a Top 40 Under 40 Lawyer. The American Society of Legal Advocates has also named him as one of California’s Top 100 Immigration Attorneys.  Finally, he has been named a Super Lawyer from 2015-2024 and a Super Lawyer Rising Star in 2011.

In 1994, at the University of Wisconsin (La Crosse), Robert Jacobs was awarded Bachelor of Science degrees in both Economics and Political Science with a Pre-Law emphasis.  He graduated with Highest Honors as he completed his term as the Student Association (government) President.

After college, Robert Jacobs attended Marquette University Law School on the Dean's Scholarship.  During law school he worked part-time at private law firms while being selected as a Member of the Marquette Law Review and named to the Dean’s List.  He also participated in Moot Court and logged enough pro bono hours to be honored at graduation as a member of the Pro Bono Society.

Mr. Jacobs is admitted to practice in many state and federal courts. These include the United States Supreme Court, the United States Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit, the United States District Court for the Southern and Central Districts of California, the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin and the States of California and Wisconsin.  Finally, he still donates time to community service as a long time member and former President of the Kiwanis Club, and is a Boston Marathon qualifier and registrant.