About Botelho Law Group and Attorney Joseph F. Botelho
Botelho Law Group is a Massachusetts law firm led by Attorney Joseph F. Botelho, a Fall River native and the son of Azorean immigrants who has practiced law since 2001. Our team serves clients in English, Portuguese and Spanish.
Meet Attorney Joseph F. Botelho
Joseph F. Botelho was born and raised in Fall River. His parents both came to the United States legally from São Miguel in the Azores: his mother from Água Retorta and his father from Ponta Delgada. Like many Azorean families in the SouthCoast, they built a life here through hard work, and that story shapes how the firm treats every client who walks through the door.
Attorney Botelho has been admitted to practice in Massachusetts since 2001. He is also admitted to the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts and the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit. He has run his own law practice since 2005 and formed Botelho Law Group in 2014.
Raised in a Fall River factory
In his early thirties, Attorney Botelho’s father started a clothing manufacturing business, JB Sportswear, and later opened Jensen Manufacturing. At its height the company employed more than 300 people in Fall River and more than 400 at a plant on São Miguel. Like much of the region’s textile and apparel industry, the business closed in 2000 as manufacturing left the United States.
Joseph started working in his father’s factory at about age 12. Through college he went to class during the day and worked at the factory at night, and he worked full time every summer. His father paid for his education, but he insisted that his son work anyway, because he believed a job builds character and teaches the value of earning a wage.
His father also gave him three choices: become a doctor, become a lawyer, or make it on his own. Not being fond of the sight of blood, he chose law. The lessons from the factory floor stayed with him: show up every day, do the work yourself, and treat people fairly.
Education
- Southern New England School of Law (now the University of Massachusetts School of Law), Juris Doctor, 2000
- University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, bachelor’s degree in psychology, 1997
- Bishop Connolly High School, Fall River, 1992
Attorney Botelho passed the Massachusetts bar exam on his first attempt.
Courtroom experience as a Bristol County prosecutor
Before opening his own firm, Attorney Botelho worked at the Law Offices of Stephen Pereira in Fall River and then served as an Assistant District Attorney in Bristol County. As a prosecutor he was in the courtroom every day. Monday through Thursday he handled arraignments, pretrial conferences and motions on a wide range of criminal cases, and every Friday he was scheduled for trial.
That schedule taught him how cases really move through Massachusetts courts: how to prepare, how to read the other side, and how to reach a resolution that serves the client. He brings that same preparation to every matter today, whether it is a probate hearing, an immigration interview or a contested case in court.
Building Botelho Law Group
In 2005 Attorney Botelho left the District Attorney’s office and started his first firm, Botelho and Associates LLC. In 2014 he formed Botelho Law Group. Today the firm works from its office at 901 Eastern Ave., Suite 2, in Fall River, and serves clients across Massachusetts. For immigration matters, which are governed by federal law, the firm serves clients nationwide.
Outside the law office
Attorney Botelho is also a business owner in his own right. He founded Ruthless Performance Motorsports, a shop that built race cars and race motorcycles, from complete engine teardowns to custom-made turbo kits, and he still runs that work today. Running a business of his own gives him a practical, first-hand understanding of the questions owners face, from contracts and employees to protecting what they have built for their families.
What we do
Estate planning and probate
Wills, trusts, powers of attorney, health care proxies, MassHealth planning, homestead protection and probate administration for Massachusetts families.
Immigration law
Family-based green cards, marriage and fiancé visas, citizenship, waivers, asylum and removal defense, for clients across the United States.
Personal injury
Car, truck and motorcycle accidents, slip and fall, premises liability and other injury cases in Massachusetts, handled with co-counsel attorneys. No attorney’s fees or case costs unless money is recovered.
Other legal services
Evictions (mainly for landlords), civil litigation and business matters in Massachusetts.
Help in English, Portuguese and Spanish
Attorney Botelho speaks conversational Portuguese. The firm’s team includes four legal staff who speak fluent Portuguese and five who speak fluent Spanish, among them the office manager, a legal aide, the intake specialist and two paralegals. They work alongside Attorney Botelho on every case, so you can explain your situation, review documents and ask questions in the language you are most comfortable with.
How we work with clients
- Free consultation to talk through your situation and options
- Clear explanations of the process, timeline and costs before you decide
- Direct involvement from Attorney Botelho, supported by a bilingual team
- Office hours Monday to Friday, 9 am to 5 pm
- Read what clients say in our Google reviews
Frequently asked questions
How long has Attorney Botelho practiced law?
Attorney Joseph F. Botelho has practiced law in Massachusetts since 2001. He has run his own firm since 2005 and formed Botelho Law Group in 2014.
Where is Botelho Law Group located?
The office is at 901 Eastern Ave., Suite 2, Fall River, MA 02723. You can call 508-500-1551, Monday to Friday, 9 am to 5 pm.
Can I speak with someone in Portuguese or Spanish?
Yes. The firm has fluent Portuguese-speaking and Spanish-speaking legal staff who work with Attorney Botelho on every case, and Attorney Botelho speaks conversational Portuguese.
Does Botelho Law Group handle immigration cases outside Massachusetts?
Yes. Immigration law is federal, so the firm helps clients with immigration matters across the United States.
Is the first consultation free?
Yes. Your first consultation is free, so you can learn about your options before deciding how to proceed.
Talk with us about your next step
Tell us what is happening and we will explain your options in plain language, in English, Portuguese or Spanish.