Strengthening your path: get to know who we are
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Mission, Vision & Values
Values
Integrity
We are honest, transparent, and committed to doing what is right for our clients and our community.
Our mission is to provide clear, accessible, and dedicated legal representation that protects the rights of every client while building stronger, safer communities. We guide individuals and families through complex legal processes with honesty, compassion, and professionalism, ensuring that no one feels alone in seeking justice or pursuing a better future.
We envision a future where every person, regardless of background or circumstance, has fair access to justice and the opportunity to live with security and dignity. Guided by Waleska’s lifelong commitment to serving the community and advocating for the vulnerable, our firm strives to be more than a legal office, we aim to be a trusted partner in building stronger families, safer communities, and a more just society.
Values
Compassion
We treat every individual with respect and humanity, recognizing the challenges that legal struggles can bring.
Values
Community Commitment
We partner with nonprofit organizations, conduct workshops, and provide resources that go beyond legal advice, helping clients access healthcare, housing, and other essential services.
Waleska Casiano Matos
Waleska was born in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico. Studied Political Science in the University of Puerto Rico and graduated with Honors in 1993. In 1996 she graduated from the Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico’s School of Law.
She initiated her career as Director of the Legal Office for the General Services Administration (GSA) in Puerto Rico in 1999. In 2000 was appointed by the Governor of Puerto Rico as a Commissioner of the Women’s Affair Commission and that same year she became President of the Board of Commissioners in charge of establishing public policy to protect abused women on the Island.
In 2003, was appointed Director of the Legal Office and Chief Counsel for the Department of Corrections in Puerto Rico.
Since 2009, Waleska became an Instructor for the Federal Bureau of Prisons, National Institute of Correction’s offering leadership training for Women and providing legal modules for the Operational Practices in the Management of Women’s Prisons training traveling all over the United States to offer training for executives in corrections.
In March 2007, she was appointed by the Governor of Puerto Rico as the Executive Director of Pre-trial Services for the Island. In 2010 left the Department of Corrections to engage in the private practice as an off counsel with two prominent law firms in PR.
In 2012, Waleska relocated with her family to the State of Maryland. In June 2013 was sworn as a member of the District of Columbia Bar. Waleska is also an active member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association.
In 2013, opened her private practice as an Immigration Attorney in Annapolis, Maryland. She works mostly representing the Hispanic community but helps immigrants from all over the World with the idea that everyone deserves an opportunity to become an American Citizen. Waleska provides high quality services accessible to the immigrant community.
From 2014 to 2019 and 2022 to 2023 Waleska was a board member in the Center of Help, a non-profit organization to help the immigrant community. Since 2014 Waleska offers once a month free immigration clinic for the immigrant community. She also provides free clinics to community members from OHLA, another nonprofit in Annapolis. Waleska presents a live show for the Hispanic community every Friday using the social platform of Somos Baltimore Latino in Facebook and YouTube.
Waleska is a former trustee for “Scholarships for Scholars” an organization that recognizes high achieving students in Anne Arundel County; “Parents Place of Maryland”, a non-profit organization that helps parents of children with disabilities and special needs. In 2020 she was appointed by the County Executive as a member of the Anne Arundel County Immigrant Affairs Commission until her term expired in 2023.
Today she is a member of the Board of Directors for Arundel Lodge, a non-profit organization located in Annapolis that helps prevent behavioral health disorders and provides the care and support people need to lead healthy, productive lives. One of her missions is to help the Lodge to be more accessible to the Hispanic community in the County.
Waleska has been a speaker in the “Annapolis Women’s March” in 2017, participates in TV programs, school fairs, offers free clinics in the county’s libraries and joins as many community events as possible in the county to speak to the people who need immigration consultations. Waleska also hosts a live weekly program with Somos Baltimore Latino news to inform the public and answer immigration questions.
In March of 2023, she opened her second law office in Glen Burnie, Maryland. Her team is growing in reaching the Hispanic community. Waleska was selected by the Embassy and consulate of Mexico as the only immigration attorney in Maryland to provide Mexican citizens with access immigration legal services.
Waleska and her husband of 29 years have one daughter, a grandson and two rescued dogs. Waleska also contributes and supports several dog rescuing programs in Puerto Rico and the ASPCA.
Whenever she gets the chance, Waleska loves to travel. She has traveled to almost all the United States as well as foreign countries from North, Central, South America, the Caribbean, Europe, Australia and New Zealand. These experiences have contributed to expand her knowledge of other cultures and shape her views of a World more tolerant and inclusive.
Attorney
Michelle J. Moodispaw
Michelle Moodispaw is an attorney at Casiano Law Office, based in the Glen Burnie, Maryland office. She offers a wide range of legal services in immigration and criminal law.
Michelle has extensive experience representing clients in criminal cases in District and Circuit Courts throughout the state of Maryland. Additionally, she provides representation to clients seeking assistance with appeals and post-conviction petitions. She represents clients in removal proceedings before Immigration Courts and with applications before the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services.
With decades of experience and a commitment to both zealous advocacy and compassionate understanding of her clients’ needs, Michelle is dedicated to providing top-tier representation to every client.
An Anne Arundel County native, Michelle recently returned to the area after spending several years living and litigating on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. She is a graduate of Towson University and the University of Baltimore School of Law.
Michelle is licensed to practice in Maryland and Florida (Inactive), as well as in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland. She is an active member of the National Immigration Project, the Maryland State Bar Association, and the LGBTQ Bar Association of Maryland.
Office Manager
Brenda Lamberty
Brenda was born in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico. Graduated from the Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a concentration in accounting. She worked for 23 years in the Mayagüez Regional Office of the Department of Justice of Puerto Rico, where she worked as a Paralegal in the Juvenile Prosecutor’s Office and the Office of Government Litigation. She moved to Maryland in 2019 to be part of Casiano Law Office, where she serves as the office Administrator and paralegal. Brenda serves the community with love and determination. She is also a Notary Public for Anne Arundel County.
Paralegal
Haydee Navarro
Haydee Castillo is a Paralegal with nine years of legal experience, including four years at Casiano Law Office, where she provides expert support to clients throughout every stage of the immigration process. Known for her professionalism, meticulous attention to detail, and dedication to client service, Haydee ensures that each case is handled efficiently and with care.
Fluent in English and Spanish, Haydee is committed to serving the Hispanic community. As the daughter of Salvadoran parents, she brings a deep understanding of the unique challenges faced by immigrants and takes pride in helping clients achieve their goals and build brighter futures.
OUR TEAM
Paralegal
Katherine Ruiz
Katherine Ruiz was born and raised in Puerto Rico and has resided in Maryland for over four years, developing diverse professional experiences. She joined Casiano Law Office over a year ago, having worked in the educational system for more than two years before focusing on an area more closely related to her academic studies.
She currently serves as a Paralegal in our Glen Burnie office. She started in the reception area, interacting directly with clients, and now works in detail on their cases, supporting them more closely through every stage of the legal process.
Katherine is completely bilingual, with fluid command of both Spanish and English, orally and in writing. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Forensic Psychology from the Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez campus. Her background allows her to maintain an analytical and detail-oriented perspective, always seeking to understand each case with depth and precision.
Legal
Assistant
Angelica Silva
Angelica Silva Casiano is a legal assistant at Casiano Law Office, where she plays a crucial role in providing support to clients during their immigration processes with empathy and efficiency. As part of a family practice, Angelica brings a personal and professional commitment to every client interaction.
Her responsibilities include welcoming new clients, preparing forms, and scheduling appointments, ensuring that every person receives timely and organized attention. She is bilingual in English and Spanish, and she has a deep passion for serving the Hispanic community. As a Puerto Rican, she understands the unique challenges many immigrants face and is proud to be a bridge between the legal system and those seeking a better future.
With a high school diploma and a strong vocation for service, Angelica is dedicated to ensuring clients feel welcomed, informed, and supported. She finds great satisfaction in the work her office does for the community and strives every day to make a positive difference.
Practice
Assistant
Karelis Aldea
With four years of experience, Karelis specializes in administrative support and also contributes to marketing-related tasks. She is bilingual in English and Spanish and takes pride in helping individuals in need of legal support, always with empathy, respect, and professionalism. As a mother of two, she brings warmth, dedication, and strong organizational skills to her daily work.
Document Translator and Interpreter
Paula Gray
Ms. Gray is a certified bilingual interpreter and translator with extensive experience providing linguistic and cultural interpretation services across the legal, medical, and governmental sectors. Fluent in English and Spanish, she is committed to ensuring clarity, accuracy, and professionalism in every client interaction.
Experience: With over a decade of service to the Hispanic and Latino community, Ms. Gray has provided support to organizations such as Mid-Atlantic Legal & Immigration Services, Alamex Language Services, and the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration. Her work facilitates equitable access to essential services through accurate interpretation, document translation, and cultural competency.
Credentials: Ms. Gray is a Certified Medical Interpreter and has previously worked as a Notary Public for the state of Maryland and as a Certified Application Counselor for the Maryland Health Connection. She adheres to strict ethical standards, including confidentiality and impartiality, always maintaining the highest level of linguistic quality.
Document Translator
Alanis Santos Ferrer
As of 2023, Alanis has been pursuing a degree in English Literature at the University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez. She is currently two years into her degree, while also working as a translator.
Although everything started as a reading and writing hobby as a teenager, it is now a full-fledged passion in which she strives not only to help others with their own writing but also to bring about change in the world. Alanis finds solace in how writing and literature can bring people together, regardless of the motive, which is why she works hard to make it a reality with her own work.
She currently lives with her parents and her wonderful furry friend, Phoenix, a cat she rescued before Hurricane Maria. Although she was born and raised on the island of Puerto Rico, she has discovered a love for traveling. Alanis hopes to one day be able to expand to more places besides the United States and Puerto Rico, where she will demonstrate her skills and dedication in any task presented to her.
Her skills are not purely in writing, but also in physical areas like drawing and specialized niche topics such as technology, video games, history, animals, law, and more. There is never just one thing she is focused on; there is always more to explore and learn. A piece of advice she follows every day of her life.
Joan Corcoran
Joan Corcoran is a prominent attorney with over 30 years of legal experience in the State of Maryland. Following a distinguished career as a corporate lawyer, she decided to dedicate her practice to serving vulnerable populations and pursuing her passion for helping families in need.
At Casiano Law Office, Joan focuses on assisting children and families seeking immigration relief, including Special Immigrant Juvenile (SIJ) status. She has achieved success in every case she has presented before Maryland courts, earning a reputation for both her legal expertise and her compassionate advocacy.
Joan’s commitment to justice, combined with her genuine concern for her clients’ well-being, is the driving force behind her work and makes her an invaluable member of the Casiano Law Office team.
Legal Advice
