Law Office of Melanie Shapiro, LLC

Melanie Shapiro is an experienced and award-winning immigration lawyer in Massachusetts. She works with clients from all over the U.S. and internationally to help keep their families together, keep them safe, and change their lives.

It has been an honor for her to develop relationships with her clients, earn their trust, and be a part of their journeys. Her ultimate goal is to see her clients succeed in their lives. Her firm’s slogan is “holistic, compassionate lawyering” and she looks to help her clients with not just their immigration cases, but any other issues that might come up.

Melanie’s practice focuses on removal defense, asylum, family petitions, naturalization, special immigration juvenile status, VAWA, U & T visas, appeals, and federal litigation.

Apart from her work in immigration law, she is a Bar Advocate in Worcester County for the Committee for Public Counsel Services, representing criminal defendants before the district courts. She is a licensed real estate broker and notary.

Melanie also is an Adjunct Professor of Law at Roger Williams University School of Law where she teaches courses on representing survivors of domestic violence, federal litigation and appeals, and starting a law practice.

She enjoys giving back to the community through teaching, mentoring students and new lawyers, and interns throughout the year, and hosting workshops and trainings. She has published several papers and articles on immigration and human rights issues.

Melanie graduated from Roger Williams University School of Law where she was a Public Interest Scholar and received recognition for her work in the immigration clinic. She obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree in Women’s Studies at the University of Rhode Island, where she was in the Honors Program, and graduated summa cum laude.

Melanie has been licensed to practice law since 2012. She is admitted in Massachusetts, the Executive Office of Immigration Review, the Federal District Court for the District of Massachusetts, and the United States Courts of Appeals for the First and Fifth Circuits.

She is the co-chair of the American Immigration Lawyers Association’s  (AILA) New England Litigation Committee, a member of the AILA National Online Course Review Committee, a former Board member of the Dedham Art Associate, and a long-time partner with the LGBT Asylum Task Force.

She has been a mentor and partner with the Student Clinic for Immigrant Justice and The Education Cooperative. She regularly speaks on immigration issues through her bar association, in the community, and through social media where she hosts live question-and-answer sessions.

Melanie loves meeting new people and learning about different cultures. She is proud to represent clients from 75 countries, and counting. She is fluent in Spanish and enjoys being able to connect directly with her Spanish-speaking clients in their native language.

Outside of the office, Melanie enjoying spending time with her family, playing pickleball, travel, painting, music, and anything outdoors.

Appeals

• We specialize in and have experience in the following matters--- 
  
  Complex immigration cases, federal litigations, and appeals in the Board of Immigration Appeals, the Administrative Appeals Office, and the U.S. Circuit Courts of Appeals,  removal defense, waivers, Special Immigrant Juvenile Status, VAWA, U and T visas, cancellation of removal, naturalization, family petitions, consular processing, employment-based visas, TPS, DACA, NACARA, Cuban Adjustment Act, restraining orders, and humanitarian parole.
  
  Criminal matters -- assault and battery-domestic, with a dangerous weapon, on a police officer, drug offenses, theft, trespassing, traffic violations, shoplifting, vandalism, breaking and entering, disturbing the peace, disorderly conduct,  unlicensed motor vehicle operation, 58A dangerousness hearings, bail review. 
  
  Family court matters - divorce, child custody, guardianships, LGBTQ+ family law matters - such as known donor agreements and second-parent adoptions.