Firm: Lavoie Law, LLC
Practice Areas: Social Security
“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.”
Contact: Not Available
Firm: Rappoport, DeGiovanni & Caslowitz
Practice Areas: Social Security
Contact: Not Available
Firm: Marassco & Nesselbush
Practice Areas: Social Security
Jennifer L. Belanger is an Associate Attorney with Marasco & Nesselbush, LLP. She has dedicated her legal career exclusively to representing Social Security Disability claimants. She has successfully represented hundreds of Social Security Disability claimants at all levels of review before the Social Security Administration, the Office of Disability Adjudication and Review, the Appeals Council, and the United States District Court. She is accredited to represent veterans. In 2014 and 2015, Belanger was named a Rising Star by the prestigious Thomson Reuters.. “I became a lawyer because I wanted to work with people and help them navigate the legal system which can seem overwhelming and difficult to understand,” she says. “People seek a lawyer because they have a problem that they cannot solve on their own. I wanted to help these people by understanding their needs and concerns and reaching the best resolution of their problem by correctly analyzing the issues and applying the law.”. Attorney Belanger has always enjoyed working with people and helping others. Before becoming an attorney, she worked as a certified nursing assistant and an emergency medical technician.. “These experiences have taught me how to identify issues, listen carefully, and help convey important information to individuals while they are going through a very stressful experience,” she says.. She said her responsibility as an attorney is to take the pressure off the client by dealing with potential issues and developing a strategy to accomplish our goals. She emphasizes the importance of good communications with clients to achieve the best outcomes.. She says the attorneys and staff of Marasco & Nesselbush are a close knit group who like and respect each other, and their emphasis is on working hard and improving the lives of clients.. Attorney Belanger is a member of the Rhode Island Bar Association’s Social Security Disability Committee, the Rhode Island Women’s Bar Association and the National Organization of Social Security Claimants’ Representatives.. A native of Terryville, Connecticut, Attorney Belanger graduated Summa Cum Laude from Elmira College and received her Juris Doctor from Roger Williams University School of Law. She is admitted to the practice of law in Rhode Island and in the United States District Court
Contact: Not Available
Firm: Law Office of Kelly McKenna-Cournoyer
Practice Areas: Social Security
Contact: Not Available
