Emerging Leader Laneyscha Echevarria on Good Morning Delmarva

GMD – Laneyscha Echevarria is a bilingual attorney with a modern and diverse law firm bringing a fresh perspective to the legal landscape in Delaware. She’s the only bilingual real estate attorney in Kent and Sussex County whose back story truly sets her apart.

Originally from Puerto Ricco, Echevarria always wanted to practice law and did just that, right on the verge of taking her bar exam. However, back in 2017, the island was hit by two devastating hurricanes back to back. Echevarria, being of one of six siblings, tells 47 ABC, she didn’t feel helpful for her family, or even her island.

With little access to the outside world and essentially no way to continue her journey to practice law, she knew she needed to do something. “I bought a flight ticket to JFK with no plan. I was like I need to get out, I need to get some power I need to study I need to get my license, and be able to help not just my family but the community by having my license and being able to provide my services.”

Echevarria says two years before 2017, she briefly met a man visiting Puerto Ricco on a beach who happened to be from Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, Scott Gaston. Gaston, who contacted her at the same time she was preparing to purchase her ticket, wanted to assure she was safe during the hurricanes. “He was like hey, I’m concerned you’re my only friend from the Caribbean, how is everything? She goes on to say “I told him I’m going to JFK, no plan I’ll figure it out there once I’m there I have so many friends I’ll figure out a solution.” Gaston offered her a room at this house free of charge while she got on her feet, and although Echevarria says she was reluctant, his and his wife’s kindness was just what she needed. “So I’m crazy enough that I accepted the offer of this stranger guy from Delaware and that’s how I ended up here (Delaware.)”

Now she could begin planning long-term to pass her bar exam and head back to Puerto Ricco, or so she thought. “I came up to Delaware and my goal was just to study for bar exams so I can get my license. As soon as law firms in Sussex County, Delaware particularly heard that an attorney speaking Spanish was going to be in Lewes, DE, I was a sensation, they said I need you. Three different law firms were making offers right away!” explains Echevarria.

While she thought she’d be in Delaware for a short period, Echevarria says she saw there was a need to advocate for the Spanish-speaking population, and no attorneys were speaking Spanish to help. In her journey to become an attorney, she found a greater purpose.

She worked hard to pass her bar exam, and while it took multiple attempts, the payoff she knew would be worth it. Her hard work led her to open her brick-and-mortar, becoming the first Spanish-speaking real estate attorney in Delaware. “Seeing that Hispanic last name right on that road, it just fills our hearts; my dads, my whole family, when I was able to show all of it to them with the sign, an Hispanic business!” Echevarria goes on to say, “We come from a very humble family and just for us to be able to put our last name in a place that was unknown to us, it was very meaningful.”

Echevarria tells us “That’s what drives me, that passion that we’re helping our Hispanic community and Delawareans because we conduct real estate transactions in English and Spanish. We help people also build their business; Whenever people want to start a business we help with that legal structure.” L. Echevarria Attorneys at Law provides personalized meaningful service with a focus on catering to clients every individual and unique need.

Now that her law firm is open for business, Echevarria says she’s found a home in Delaware, a passion for helping, and a drive to make a difference. She tells us she hopes her growing success story helps others, just like her. “Being a woman from our community, growing her own business so young in this early stage, I could have been a part of so many other law firms but I said no I’m going to do it on my own I’m going to do it my way.” She says she tells herself, “Laneysha, little girls out there are watching you and what you’re doing, not just girls but people in our community, I say just do it!’

Her firm is located at 34385 Carpenters Way, Unit A, Lewes, DE. You can learn more about her firm by visiting her website.

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