Lisa T Johnson-Firth

Ms. Shea founded Immigrants First, PLLC in 2007 in response to harsh immigration enforcement in Prince William County, VA, where police were empowered to racially profile immigrants. She became a key advocate for immigrant rights, conducting Know Your Rights seminars, testifying before civil rights bodies, and successfully pushing to remove the county’s 287(g) agreement with ICE.

Through her firm, she has zealously represented immigrants in hundreds of cases involving asylum, waivers, DACA, VAWA, U and T visas, and more, including complex immigration litigation. One of her cases is currently petitioned before the U.S. Supreme Court.

Ms. Shea is also an adjunct law professor at Georgetown University, has authored a book on immigration law in Virginia, and regularly trains professionals on immigration and human rights topics. She serves on multiple non-profit and legal boards, including the Virginia Women Attorney Association and Centreville Labor Resource Center.

Her excellence has been recognized with numerous awards, including the 2023 Prince William Influential Women Award and the 2021 Universal Human Rights Award.

Ms. Shea holds degrees from Allegheny College, University of Sheffield (LL.B.), and Northeastern University School of Law (J.D.), and is licensed in MA, DC, and England & Wales.

In addition to her legal career, she is a trained healer and energy medicine practitioner, using holistic and trauma-informed approaches to support her clients. Her dual expertise allows her to combine legal skill with emotional support, contributing to her high success rate and respected leadership in immigration law.