José Z. Canto, Attorney-at-Law, is the founder of The Canto Law Firm, LLC.
He is a litigator with a practice focused on immigration, family law, criminal defense, employment law, estate planning, and civil litigation.
Prior to founding The Canto Law Firm, LLC, José Canto worked as a trial attorney for a DC area law firm and participated in the Georgetown Criminal Defense Clinic. José Canto worked as a summer associate at Arias & Muñoz (now Denton Muñoz), one of the largest law firms in Central America. He also has work experience with the Felony Trial Division of the Maryland Office of the Public Defender (Baltimore City).
The Maryland Volunteer Lawyer Service (MVLS) appointed José Canto as a panel member attorney in 2012. MVLS provides low income Maryland residents access to pro bono legal services. As a member of the panel, José Canto represents clients in domestic violence, family, employment, landlord/tenant, and criminal cases.
José Canto is also a panel attorney for 32BJ Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and assists union members with their family, immigration, and estate planning matters. 32BJ is the nation’s largest union of janitorial and building service workers.
José Canto holds a Juris Doctor degree from Georgetown Law School. Prior to entering law school, he was awarded a Mitchell scholarship from the US-Ireland Alliance which enabled him to pursue a master’s degree in the sociology of law at the University College Dublin. José Canto graduated summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from Georgetown University with a bachelor’s degree in sociology. He completed the General Course at The London School of Economics and Political Science.
José Canto is licensed to practice law in the State of Maryland (federal and state courts) and Washington, District of Columbia. He is bilingual in English and Spanish.
BAR MEMBERSHIPS
United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit (2020)
United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit (2020)
United States District Court for the District of Maryland (2019)
District of Columbia Court of Appeals (2014)
Maryland Court of Appeals (2012)
AWARDS AND HONORS
SuperLawyers Rising Star (2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023)
Robert M. Bell Pro Bono Award, Maryland Bar Foundation (2019)
Kids in Need of Defense (KIND) Pro Bono Achievement Award (2018)
Anne Arundel County Bar Foundation President’s Pro Bono Award Finalist (2016)
Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service (MVLS) Partnership Award (2014)
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
American Immigration Lawyers Association (“AILA”)
Maryland State Bar Association
Maryland Hispanic Bar Association
Montgomery County Bar Association
Montgomery County Notary Public
Prince George’s County Bar Association
District of Columbia Bar Association
EDUCATION
Georgetown University Law Center (Juris Doctor, 2012)
University College Dublin, (Master of Social Science, 2012)
Georgetown University (Bachelor of Arts, 2008)
London School of Economics and Political Science (General Course, 2006-2007)
Calvert Hall College High School, Baltimore, MD (High School Diploma, 2004)