CHANTELL J. ABOU-HAMDAN

Chantell Abou-Hamdan is an associate attorney at Wilner & O’Reilly’s Boise office. Prior to joining W&O she worked as a public defender for the State of Idaho where she provided legal representation to persons accused of violating criminal law in Ada County. She also has prior immigration law experience from when she worked as a staff attorney for a non-profit in the Treasure Valley, namely Familias Unidas Immigration Legal Services in Caldwell, Idaho. There, she provided legal representation to immigrant communities throughout Idaho.

A Texas native who was born in Austin, Chantell was raised in the border town of Eagle Pass, which has a population that is over ninety percent Hispanic. Growing up, it was routine for Chantell to cross the border into Mexico on a weekly or daily basis and speaking Spanish with family everyday was the norm. After high school, Chantell moved back to Austin to attend the University of Texas, where she earned a bachelor’s degree with a major in government and a minor in Spanish. After graduating, Chantell worked as a court clerk for Justice of the Peace which is where she first became exposed to the legal field.

While working full-time, Chantell went on to pursue her master’s degree at Texas State University where she eventually earned her degree in Legal Studies as well as a certification in both Paralegal and Mediation. It was during this time that she also welcomed the birth of her daughter, Tatiana. Chantell maintained her good work ethic on the job and was promoted to judicial aide for the Civil Courts of Travis County. Although it was the judge she worked for who persuaded Chantell to attend law school, it was a program called Council on Legal Education Opportunity (CLEO) that became a catalyst in Chantell’s legal career journey. Chantell applied to their program and was selected to participate in its 2019 Pre-Law Summer Institute. After she completed the program, she made a definitive decision to go to law school. Chantell was offered a scholarship to attend University of Idaho College of Law, because of her performance in the CLEO program. Chantell accepted the school’s offer, and she and her daughter made their way to Idaho where she ultimately earned her law degree.

Chantell’s goal is to not only be a role model for her daughter but also to represent people on issues where they have traditionally been underrepresented. She finds comfort in knowing that there are other individuals who are all working together to help uplift marginalized communities. This is critical to making a lasting impact.

Bar Admission:

• Idaho Bar 2023

Education

• University of Idaho College of Law – Moscow, ID
  • Juris Doctorate – 2022

• Texas State University – San Marcos, TX
  • M.A. in Legal Studies, Concentration in Alternative Dispute Resolution
• University of Texas – Austin, TX
  • B.A. in Government, Minor in Spanish

Languages

• English
• Spanish

Location: Boise, Idaho

Languages: English, Spanish