Abel Albarran joined Joyce Law Firm in May 2016 as a Law Clerk. While in law school, at the University of Arkansas School of Law, Abel participated as treasurer for the Hispanic Law Student Association and the Young Democrats. Abel also participated as a student-attorney in the immigration clinic at the University of Arkansas helping clients in areas such as naturalization, affirmative asylum applications, and DACA applications.
Prior to attending law school, Abel attended the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, graduating in 2010 with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. In December 2017, Abel received his Juris Doctor from the University of Arkansas School of Law. While in law school, Abel also worked as a research assistant for Tiffany R. Murphy in her published law review article, “Federal Habeas Corpus and Systemic Official Misconduct: Why Form Trumps Constitutional Rights.”
Abel is licensed to practice law in Arkansas. He practices in the areas of immigration and criminal defense exclusively. Abel chose to focus on these two practice areas to be able to fully advise clients on the consequences of criminal activity on their immigration status or possibilities of obtaining lawful status in the United States in the future.
Originally from Santa Maria, California, Abel moved to Rogers, Arkansas with his family in 2002. As a first-generation American and the son of Mexican immigrants, Abel was raised in an environment that allowed him to see the opportunities we have in this country and made him aware of the difficulties some of his family and friends had in trying to live normal lives due to their limited English comprehension or immigration status. This is what led Abel to attend law school and focus on helping people that are often left without adequate legal representation.
In his personal life, Abel has played in the Rogers Men’s Soccer League with legendary teams such as “Los Astros” and “Atletico NWA.” Abel’s love for the game has allowed him to play with teammates from around the world and has permitted him to appreciate the similarities and differences we all share, regardless of where we come from. Due to an injury at the prime of his soccer career, Abel’s hopes of making it as a professional soccer player faded away, but fortunately, he has successfully recovered from that injury and graces his teams with his skills and leadership to this day.
In 2024, Abel became a partner at “Joyce Law Firm,” leading to the rebranding of the firm’s name to “Albarran & Joyce.” Later that year, Abel was recognized by the Talk Business & Politics magazine as a member of that year’s 40 under 40 class, in which individuals under the age of 40 are honored as best in class by their peers in all industries. He is also a member of the Washington County Bar and the American Immigration Lawyers Association. Abel often speaks to students and non-profit organizations about topics related to immigration.
Abel is married to Paloma Albarran, and they have a son and a daughter. Abel and his family enjoy walking, biking the many trails in the area, and exploring all the great options Northwest Arkansas has to offer.
Abel is fluent in Spanish.
Areas of Practice:
- Immigration
- Family-Based Petitions
- Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)
- Deportation Defense
- Asylum
- Humanitaria Visas
- Criminal Defense
- Arkansas Misdemeanors
- Arkansas Felonies
Bar Admissions
- Arkansas
Education
- Juris Doctorate, December 2017, University of Arkansas School of Law
- Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, May 2010, University of Arkansas
Published Works
- Research Assistant, Federal Habeas Corpus and Systemic Official Misconduct: Why Form Trumps Constitutional Rights, Winter 2017
