Mariam Alexanian Lavoie

“I became an attorney to level the playing field.”

Attorney Mariam Alexanian Lavoie has been a proud member of the Rhode Island Bar Association for almost thirty years.    She was born in Bloomington, Indiana but lived in her native state and Livermore, California for six brief years before moving to Mexico City. Attorney Lavoie spent her formative years in Mexico, graduating from an all-Spanish speaking high school, the Instituto Tecnológico de Monterrey, in 1980. She attended Montana State University (MSU) in Bozeman, Montana, at age sixteen while her father spent his sabbatical year in MSU’s Physics Department. 

In 1981, Attorney Lavoie moved to Rhode Island to attend the University of Rhode Island (URI) and graduated with highest distinction in 1985.  She always knew she wanted to be an attorney.   

“As far back as I can remember, I have had a strong desire to see that all persons receive equal access to justice and equal treatment under the law.   I relate to regular men and women and passionately believe we all deserve to have the same top notch legal representation as those who can afford the best.”    

She graduated from URI knowing law school was next but wanted some real-life experience before entering legal academia.  

As soon as she received her bachelor’s degree from URI, she turned to the yellow pages looking for potential employment at a law firm. The “Se Habla Español” piece of a large Lovett, Schefrin, Gallogy & Harnett ad caught her eye.  She made the call, met with the one and only King of workers’ compensation himself, Raul L. Lovett, and got started. This marked the beginning of her experience with workers’ compensation law and the exciting world of medical science in the context of legal actions. 

Work in a vibrant legal environment gave Attorney Lavoie the confirmation she needed:  she would enter law school and dedicate her working years to representing the injured and disabled.    While attending law school full time, she remained active in the legal community, representing injured workers before the then Department of Workers’ Compensation and United States residency applicants under the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986. She graduated cum laude from Suffolk University School of Law in 1990.

Since her admission to the Rhode Island Bar Association in 1990, Attorney Lavoie has continued to advocate for the rights and benefits of her injured or disabled clients.  In 2004, she joined Marasco & Nesselbush where she widened her experience in the areas of personal injury law and Social Security disability.  She has represented hundreds of adults and children before Administrative Law Judges in Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Connecticut.  She enjoys giving frequent presentations related to Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits before attorneys, medical providers and medical support groups throughout Rhode Island.    She is an active member of the Rhode Island Bar Association’s Social Security Sub-Committee, the National Organization of Social Security Claimant’s Representatives and the Rhode Island Association for Justice.

Attorney Lavoie is admitted to practice law in Massachusetts and the United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island.

She lives in West Warwick with her husband Roger, their two adult children, Troy and Elly, and their Bengal cat Mowgli. She enjoys the arts, travel, the great outdoors, nights at The Sandra Feinstein-Gamm Theatre, her Cranston Public Library book club and her church family at the Armenian Evangelical Church in Cranston, Rhode Island.  

“My anchors are faith, family, friends and a good fight advocating for my clients. Everyone deserves a fully prepared attorney who can be trusted to battle as long as there is something worth fighting for.”