Born in Puerto Rico, Rafael moved to Tennessee at a young age and established a life here. He graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Tennessee in Chattanooga, moving to Knoxville to study law at Lincoln Memorial University Duncan School of Law. During his time in law school, he was the vice president of the LMU Latino Law Society seeking an opportunity to reach out to the Hispanic communities of Eastern Tennessee. He clerked for several criminal firms in the Knoxville and Chattanooga area. This allowed him to gain practical experience, expand his foundational understanding of the criminal judicial system, and better serve those in need of help.

Prior to joining the firm, Rafael worked in Latino legal advocacy, leveraging his Spanish and cultural understanding to help the underserved Hispanic population of Chattanooga both in criminal and immigration matters.