Melanie Shapiro

Melanie Shapiro is an experienced immigration lawyer based on Norwood, MA. 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 client's with not just their immigration cases, but any other issues that might come up. Melanie is a second generation immigrant herself, so she is very dedicated to pave the way for new immigrantsMelanie's practice focuses on removal defense, asylum, family petitiions, naturalization, special immigration juvenile status, VAWA, U & T visas, appeals before the Board of Immigration Appeals and the First Circuit Court of appeals, and federal district court work. 

Melanie Shapiro has always been passionate about human rights and helping other people. While an undergraduate student at the University of Rhode Island, she co-founded an organization, Citizen Against Trafficking, to combat human trafficking. She received the Robert A. Rainville Leadership Award, the President's Award for Academic Excellence, and completed a distinguished thesis as part of the honors program, entitled "Sex Trafficking and Decriminalized Prostitution in Rhode Island."  In law school, she was a Public Interest Scholar at Roger Williams University School of Law, where she won the highest marks in the Immigration Clinic. 

Attorney Shapiro is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association and serves on the AILA New England Diversity and Inclusion Committee. AILA previously named Melanie a ProBono Star. Super Lawyers has named Melanie a Rising Star for the last several years.  She volunteers her time providing community education to different organizations, including the LGBT Asylum Task Force.  

Melanie is also an accomplished artist. She is on the board of the Dedham Art Association and paints portraits inspired by her clients. They can be found all over the office.  In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her partner, daughter, dog, painting, hiking, and enjoying the outdoors.