José Zachary Canto is the founder of The Canto Law Firm, LLC.  He is a litigator with a practice focused on family law, employment law, estates and trusts, civil litigation, elder law, and criminal defense.  Prior to founding The Canto Law Firm, LLC, José worked as a trial attorney for DC metro area law firms and the Georgetown Criminal Defense and Prisoner Advocacy Clinic.  He also worked as a summer associate focused on international arbitration at Arias & Muñoz, one of the largest law firms in Central America.

The Maryland Volunteer Lawyer Service (MVLS) appointed José 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 represents clients in domestic violence, family law, employment law, landlord/tenant disputes, foreclosure actions, criminal defense, and will and estate planning cases.

He is an active member of the Maryland community and frequently provides pro bono legal services.  He is involved with the Harford County Bar Foundation Pro Bono Program, the Prince George’s County Community Legal Services, and the Montgomery County Bar Foundation.

José holds a law 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 graduated summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from Georgetown University with a bachelor’s degree in sociology.

José is licensed to practice law in the State of Maryland and the District of Columbia.  He is bilingual in English and Spanish.