Chris founded Christensen Legal PLLC in December 2017 so that he could continue serving the immigrant community in the great state of Idaho and beyond. A Caldwell native and graduate of Caldwell High School, Chris always had a passion for Spanish and started learning early. In college, Chris earned three majors at Willamette University while playing collegiate tennis and working part-time in Portland. He also continued improving his Spanish by spending a semester in Spain. After graduating from Willamette, Chris managed a Mexican food restaurant in Caldwell before moving to Moscow where he spent a year working for the College Assistance Migrant Program at the University of Idaho helping first generation college students as an academic adviser.

Chris was very active in law school where he served as the Board of Student Advocates President, was on the National Moot Court Team, participated in several faculty/student committees, and got his introduction to immigration law through the clinic. He was able to write briefs and successfully argue a case before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in Seattle. After law school, Chris spent slightly over two years clerking for the Honorable Darrel Perry on the Idaho Court of Appeals. In 2010, Chris was awarded the Outstanding Young Lawyer of the Year award by the Idaho State Bar for his involvement in that organization and for the extensive hours he volunteered. Chris then spent over three years doing exclusively immigration work for Maria Andrade at Andrade Legal.

In 2013, Chris moved to Indiana for two years where he directed the Migrant Farmworker Law Center at Indiana Legal Services. He traveled the state of Indiana visiting labor camps and talking to migrant field workers about their rights, housing, pay, taxes, immigration options, and more.

In 2015, Chris returned to his beloved Idaho and went back to work at Andrade Legal; in addition to working three days a week at the Boise office, he served as the managing attorney for the new satellite office in Ontario, Oregon. Chris has provided legal advice to Catholic Charities of Idaho as a contract attorney for years and been involved in numerous Citizenship Day events. He also spent a week volunteering at a family detention center in Dilley, Texas representing women and children from Mexico and Central America.

Chris has a passion for helping people and a strong work ethic. He is thrilled to have his own practice and to be able to continue doing the work he loves.

Education

J.D., University of Idaho, College of Law, 2007, magna cum laude
B.A. – degrees in Politics, Economics, and Spanish; Willamette University, 2002

Professional Affiliations:
American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) – member since 2009, past Idaho AILA Chair
National Immigration Project (NIP) – member since 2009
Idaho State Bar – member since 2007
Oregon State Bar – member since 2016
Languages:Spanish