Justia Legal Services & Lawyers Directory

The Law Office of Ama N. Appiah represents those seeking assistance in immigration, representation in domestic or international adoption cases, child advocacy, and state or immigration appeals.

Ms. Appiah earned her Bachelor of Science degree at the State University of New York College at Buffalo, cum laude. Prior to attending law school, Ms. Appiah worked as a legal assistant and paralegal for the U.S. Small Business Administration - Disaster Assistance Office in Niagara Falls, NY. The Disaster Assistance Office provided federal loans and grants to those who suffered physical damage to their homes and physical and/or economic injury to their businesses as a result of a natural disaster.

Attorney Appiah earned her law degree from Albany Law School in Albany, NY, in 2003. It was there that she gained extensive appellate experience. She interned for a substantial amount of time for the Albany County District Attorney's Office Criminal Appeals Division. Ms. Appiah also interned for the Hon. Thomas J. McAvoy in the U.S. Northern District Court of New York, as well as the Corporations Division of the New York State Department of State.

Upon moving to Florida in 2003, Ms. Appiah worked for a solo practitioner whose practice focused on criminal and civil litigation. Since 2005, Ms. Appiah has contracted with the Tenth Judicial Public Defender's Office as a Special Assistant Public Defender on felony criminal appellate cases.

In 2005, Ms. Appiah also became a Program Attorney for the Sixth Judicial Circuit Guardian ad Litem Program. The Guardian ad Litem Program represents the best interests of children in cases alleging abuse, abandonment, and/or neglect. Ms. Appiah represented the Program in the juvenile dependency division of the circuit court in cases resulting in reunification, permanent guardianship, termination of parental rights, and adoption. Ms. Appiah worked as an Appellate Senior Program Attorney for the Statewide Guardian ad Litem Program from 2007 to 2009. She represented the Guardian ad Litem Program in District Courts of Appeal throughout the state of Florida.

Ms. Appiah has participated in several pro bono services throughout central Florida for those who are indigent and low income. She has participated in a number of family law clinics at Florida Legal Rural Services in Polk County. She has participated in a number of "Community Day" law clinics, as well as a "Citizenship Day" immigration law clinic in Pinellas County. Additionally, Ms. Appiah has been trained in human trafficking representation by the Orange County Bar Association in Orange County.

The focus of the Law Office of Ama N. Appiah is immigration cases, family law cases involving dependency and/or adoption, and international law cases involving child advocacy or adoption-related issues. However, we also represent parties in state and immigration appellate cases. The Law Office of Ama N. Appiah is particularly equipped to accommodate the representation of non-English speaking clients that speak Spanish, Hindi, Urdu, Gujarati, Twi, and Vietnamese, through the use of interpreters.

I have practiced law continuously since 1993, focusing almost exclusively on the employment relationship. I am admitted to practice law in Florida (Florida Bar) and Texas (State Bar of Texas). I am also admitted to practice law before the United States Supreme Court and numerous federal courts with jurisdiction in Florida and Texas. Since year 2000, I have been Board Certified, Labor & Employment Law, by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. I am a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA).

I attended the University of South Florida, in Tampa, Florida, and graduated with a undergraduate Bachelor of Arts degree (B.A., 1986) and a graduate Master of Arts degree (M.A., 1987). After graduate school, I worked for several years as an investigator for the federal government (EEOC & DOL). I then attended the Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law in Dallas, Texas, from which I graduated with a Juris Doctor degree (J.D., 1993).

After graduation from law school, I worked for an employment law firm, Gillespie, Rozen, Tanner & Watsky, PC. In 2000, I opened my own law practice, continuing my focus on employment law. Today, my employment practice includes Texas and Florida, with a particular focus on Gulf Coast and Central Florida as well as North and Central Texas. I represent both employers and employees.

Hi - I'm Shawn Mesa. I am the principal of Shawn Mesa Immigration Law - and as part of my business practice, I offer a FREE 20 minute consultation on all Immigration matters.

I've focused on Immigration and Naturalization Law since I began my career as an attorney and take great pride in assisting newcomers to this Country - and because of how the U.S. Immigration Laws impacted my Grandfather when he came to this country from Cuba.

Within Immigration Law, I practice in the areas of:

* Family Immigration & Citizenship
* Business Immigration
* Employer Compliance
* And Deportation Defense & Asylum

I've had a considerable amount of experience in this area of law after working for several years at one the largest Immigration Law Firms in the state of Florida.

Although based in Tampa, FL., I also serve visitors to this country that reside in Hernando County, Hillsborough County, Pasco County, Pinellas County, Citrus County, Manatee County and Sarasota County, Florida.

Within these counties, I've assisted clients in the following cities:

* Clearwater
* St. Petersburg
* Tampa
* Bradenton
* Brandon
* Largo
* Lakeland
* Palm Harbor
* Sarasota
* Spring Hill
* Town 'n' Country
* Citrus Park
* Dunedin
* Egypt Lake-Leto
* East Lake
* Greater Carrollwood
* Holiday
* Homosassa Springs
* Land O' Lakes
* Lealman
* Lutz
* New Port Richey
* Greater Northdale
* Oldsmar
* Palm River-Clair Mel
* Palmetto
* Pinellas Park
* Plant City
* Safety Harbor
* Seminole
* Greater Sun Center
* Tarpon Springs
* Temple Terrace
* University
* Westchase
* Zephyrhills

If you need assistance with any immigration related legal matter, please call my office at (813) 679-5780 or click on "Contact This Attorney" found at the top of this page.