On October 31st, 2024, Attorney Krenk was featured on IU McKinney’s website. Read the article on: https://mckinneylaw.iu.edu/news/releases/2024/10/meet-iu-mckinney-alumna-talitha-krenk.html
Talitha Krenk has graduated twice from IU McKinney School of Law. She received her Master of Law degree in 2018, and her Juris Doctor in 2022.
Where are you from originally?
I am from Joao Pessoa, Brazil
Did you work before coming to law school at IU McKinney?
Yes, I was an attorney in Brazil and worked for the prosecutor’s office of the State of Paraiba, Brazil.
What brought you to IU McKinney?
The reputation of IU McKinney in offering some of the best programs in the country such as legal writing and the LL.M. in Health Law.
Any lawyers in the family? What made you want to become a lawyer?
Yes, my mother is a lawyer in Brazil. I became a lawyer inspired by how she could help her clients and be a problem solver. Since I was a child, she used to take me to her law office, and I grew up helping her with administrative tasks. The sense of justice and accomplishment we had at the end of every case motivated me to pursue the same career.
Can you share a little of your career trajectory?
I finished my Bachelor of Laws in Brazil in 2011 and became a licensed attorney that year. I practiced criminal law for almost four years at the prosecutor’s office of my Brazilian State. During this time, I finished a post-graduation degree in litigation and became a specialist in Brazil.
In 2016, I moved to the United States and pursued a Master of Laws at IU McKinney. I worked for almost three years at the Office of the Indiana Attorney General as a case analyst and law clerk. I was president and vice president of the Master of Laws Association, SBA LL.M. Representative, and received the IUPUI 2018 Elite 50 award.
Following my graduation, I started my Juris Doctor at IU McKinney. Then, I worked as a law clerk for a personal injury firm in Carmel, Indiana, as chief compliance officer and immigration law clerk.
When I became licensed in the U.S., I opened Krenk Law, an immigration law firm, and have been representing clients in all U.S. states and around the world.
Was practicing this area of the law always an ambition of yours?
I consider myself a generalist. I do have a legal background in different practices of law because most of my career I worked for the government. I started practicing immigration and nationality laws when I noticed that the legal market in this area had a lot of opportunities in Indiana. As an immigrant, I understand the process and the anxiety involved. I also feel thrilled to be able to change families’ lives and help them to achieve their American dream.
What do you enjoy most about your present role?
I enjoy working with people who are located everywhere and have different backgrounds. I love to learn about their stories and reunite families.
What during your time as a student at IU McKinney prepared you for what you’re doing now?
All the leadership roles I had at IU McKinney helped me to learn how to manage my law firm. I also took a class on law office management, in which the final project was to write a business plan. I could use that business plan as a draft of my current one which guided me to open my law firm and know where to start and what I needed.
What’s next for you?
I hope to continue helping more people as I grow my practice.