Grace Clair Casagrande

Grace Casagrande, Esq. is a dedicated criminal defense attorney serving Central Florida who focuses on defending individuals accused of crimes. She is a relentless advocate who is not afraid to take cases to trial and fight aggressively for her clients’ freedom, reputation, and future.

Education & Early Career
Ms. Casagrande grew up in Bradenton Florida, and later earned her bachelor’s degree from Saint Louis University, where she double majored in Social Work and International Studies and minored in Spanish and International Business. During her undergraduate studies, she lived in Nicaragua, studying at La Universidad Centroamericana and later teaching English in public schools. She also worked extensively with immigrant and refugee communities in St. Louis—experiences that shaped her ability to connect with clients from diverse backgrounds and advocate for them with empathy and strength.

Legal Training & Public Defender Experience
Ms. Casagrande earned her Juris Doctor from Washington University School of Law in St. Louis, where she focused her legal training on criminal defense, post-conviction work, and immigration law. She gained hands-on experience defending individuals through internships with the Missouri State Public Defender’s Office and Arch City Defenders. As a student attorney in both the Washington University Immigration Law Clinic and the Phillips Black Post-Conviction Law Clinic, she aided in complex cases in immigration law, as well as post-conviction representation in capital cases.

Orlando Practice & Advocacy Philosophy
After returning to Florida, Ms. Casagrande served as an Assistant Public Defender in the Ninth Judicial Circuit in Orange County, where she represented more than 700 clients facing misdemeanor and felony charges. Her experience spans a wide range of offenses, including DUI, theft crimes, driving while license suspended, aggravated assault, drug possession and trafficking, dealing in stolen property, and felony battery, and more. Following her time at the Public Defender's Office, Ms. Casagrande continued to hone her skills in private practice criminal defense, taking numerous cases to trial and handling a wide variety of cases, from misdemeanors to first-degree felonies punishable by life.

Ms. Casagrande approaches every case with a trial-ready mindset. She understands that the strongest negotiations come from being fully prepared to fight in court, and she uses that leverage to pursue the best possible outcome for her clients. Casagrande Law is committed to holding the State to its burden at every stage of the case and ensuring that all clients voices are heard. At Casagrande Law, we bridge the gap between aggressive litigation and clear, candid communication. By pairing unyielding integrity with a respectful yet rigorous approach to negotiation, Grace ensures her clients’ stories are heard and their rights are fiercely protected. As a fully bilingual advocate, she is proud to provide Central Florida’s Spanish-speaking community with a formidable defense.