Julianna Barreto-Jackson was born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona, but she has always felt that her heart was in the Bay Area. The day after she graduated from The Art Institute of Phoenix with a Bachelors of Arts in Fashion Marketing and Management, she drove all of her belongings to Berkeley.

Julianna bounced around the Bay, but ultimately she found a permanent home in Oakland where she fell in love with Oakland’s beautiful diversity and culture. After working in the fashion industry for several years, she didn’t feel satisfied with her current career path. Julianna wanted to be able to be a part of a team that wanted to help those in need.

Julianna decided to switch careers and go back to school to pursue a paralegal certification from Cal State East Bay. During school, she realized that the legal industry was where she needed to be and was excited to start a more rewarding career in the criminal legal field. Julianna is passionate about helping others because she believes every person goes through life, down their own path, and sometimes that path may end them up in a negative situation. She believes that some people may need a lending hand and everyone, no matter their story, deserves a chance. During her free time, Julianna enjoys finding new recipes to cook, hiking and exploring new trails, and spending quality time with her loved ones.