Kim Jinorio Swanson is an immigration attorney committed to standing with immigrants and their families with presence, compassion, and unwavering respect for each person’s dignity. Her work is rooted in the belief that legal advocacy should be trauma‑informed, community‑centered, and deeply human. She serves clients across North Carolina, the United States, and the world with the same care and commitment she brings to her own community in Durham County—a place she loves and proudly calls home.

Kim’s path to immigration law has always been shaped by service. Before becoming an attorney, she earned her Master of Social Work from UNC‑Chapel Hill, where she received the Jane Curtis Parker Award for compassion, social justice, and courage. She later graduated cum laude from North Carolina Central University School of Law, where her dedication to advocacy was highlighted in an NCCU feature story about her journey into immigration work. Kim is also a Wingate University Alumni Champion of Diversity Award Honoree, recognized for her leadership, service, and commitment to equity.

Throughout her career, Kim has worked alongside immigrant families in shelters, nonprofits, and legal settings. She has supported survivors of trauma, collaborated with social workers and community leaders, and advocated for clients in complex humanitarian and removal defense cases. Her background in social work and restorative justice shapes her approach to law: she listens deeply, honors each client’s story, and builds strategies that center safety, dignity, and empowerment.

Kim also believes that strong communities care for one another. She volunteers with the North Carolina Justice Center and Carolina Migrant Network, providing support at asylum and power‑of‑attorney clinics. These partnerships as well as others allow her to expand access to high‑quality, compassionate legal care for people who might otherwise face the system alone.

Fluent in Spanish and trained in trauma‑informed care, Kim creates a welcoming, supportive environment where clients feel seen, heard, and safe. Whether she is preparing a complex asylum case, guiding a family through naturalization, or defending someone in removal proceedings, her purpose remains the same: to stand alongside immigrants with presence, justice, and fierce compassion—helping families stay together and build secure futures in the United States.