Eshigo P. Okasili

In the first half of my legal education, I worked full-time, attended law school part-time and volunteered with African American Family Services and Legal Aid (both in Minneapolis, MN). In the second half of my legal education, I attended law school full-time, worked part- time and volunteered as a student attorney (under the supervision of licensed attorneys). I had my first two children while a law student and graduated from William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul, MN in January 2003. After my graduation, I devoted my time to raising my young children and assisting my husband with his real estate business. I had my third and youngest child in 2006.

I was admitted to Maryland Court of Appeals in June 2009. In September 2009, I founded Law Office of Eshigo P. Okasili, LLC and immediately began to serve my community by providing result-oriented legal services to them. My practice focuses primarily on Family Law (i.e. separation agreements, limited divorce, absolute divorce, annulment, child custody, child support, equitable distribution of marital property and spousal support/alimony). I also provide legal legal services to my clients in the areas of domestic violence, immigration, personal injury, education and criminal law, from time to time.

Not all disputes and all personalities lend themselves to long, expensive and emotionally charged or high-conflict court battles. Therefore, I also provide mediation and collaborative services to those of my clients who find either mediation or collaborative law to be a better fit for them. I have a client-centered practice and serve my clients by advising them of the options available to them, setting realistic expectations for them, working hard to settle matters out of court when appropriate, litigating them only when it is the most viable option, while demonstrating cultural competence and empathy towards all of my clients. I am trained as a Child Counsel and serve as a court-appointed guardian ad litem.

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Maryland

Since 2009

Principal

Law Office of Eshigo P Okasili, LLC

2009 - Current

Law Office of Eshigo P Okasili, LLC provides a wide range of legal services that are tailored to meet the specific needs of each of our clients. We provide legal representation to a racially, culturally, economically and socially diverse clientele in various areas of law, which include but are not limited to: family, immigration, criminal, education and professional malpractice. The firm also provides services such as mediation and collaborative resolution of disputes (i.e. resolution of legal disputes out of court).

Principal

Law Office of Eshigo P. Okasili

2009 - Current

At Law Office of Eshigo P Okasili, LLC, we honor the maxim, "To whom much is given, much is expected." Therefore, every year, we dedicate a considerable amount of our time and other resources to serve our community by providing free and reduced fee services to various members of our community who might not be able to access legal services, otherwise.

Volunteer Student Attorney

Hennepin County Office of Multicultural Services, Minneapolis, MN

2002 - 2002

Assisted a diverse population of immigrants to identify appropriate immigration benefits to apply or petition for and assisted them with the necessary paperwork.

Volunteer Student Attorney

Legal Aid of Minneapolis, Minneapolis, MN

2001 - 2002

Assisted a diverse population of immigrants to identify appropriate immigration benefits to apply or petition for and assisted them with necessary paperwork. In addition, assisted French-speaking clients with consecutive interpretation and translation.

Law Clerk

Minnesota Department of Health and Human Services, St. Paul, MN

1998 - 1998

Conducted legal research, prepared a variety of legal documents on a variety of legal issues (including but not limited to data privacy and rule-making); and attended administrative hearings on a variety of legal issues (including but not limited to violation of licensing rules, denial of health and means-tested benefits).

Domestic Violence Trainer and Victim Advocate

African American Family Services, Minneapolis, MN

1996 - 1998

Developed a six-week training program and provided separate training content to domestic violence victims, survivors and abusers, pursuant to court orders

William Mitchell College of Law

J.D. (2003) | Law

1997 - 2002

Public Service

Minnesota Justice Foundation

2002

Recognition for providing over 300 hours of volunteer legal services as a student attorney.

Volunteer

African American Family Services, Minneapolis, MN

1999

Recognition for providing volunteer services as domestic violence trainer and victims advocate.

Volunteer

African American Family Services, Minneapolis, MN

1998

Recognition for providing volunteer services as domestic violence trainer and victims advocate

Speaker: Marketing of Limited Scope Representation, Limited Scope Representation Conference, University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law

October 14, 2016

Maryland Access to Justice Commission

The presentation focused on various ways to deliver affordable legal services and/or representation to potential clients of limited financial means.

Speaker: Providing Legal Representation to Limited Means Clients: A Win-Win Proposition, Nuts and Bolts Training, Montgomery County Bench and Bar Pro Bono/Low Bono/ Self-Represented Litigants Committee, Rockville, Maryland

July 21, 2015

Bar Association of Montgomery County, Maryland

The presentation focused on the importance of making legal representation affordable for people of limited financial means.

Speaker: Women and Immigration, Bowie State University

October 17, 2013

Bowie State University

The presentation focused on the pivotal role of women in immigration in the United States.

Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), French

University of Jos, Nigeria

40-Hour Divorce Mediation

Mediation Matters

40-Hour Basic Mediation Training

Alternative Resolutions

8-Hour Guardianship Training

Administrative Office of Courts, Annapolis, MD

Child Counsel Training

Administrative Office of Courts, Annapolis, MD

20-Hour Child Access Training

Mediation Matters

Child In Need of Assistance (CINA)

Administrative Office of Courts, Annapolis, MD

Diplomas I and II

University of Caen, France

Basic Collaborative Divorce (Three-Day Training)

Administrative Office of Courts, Annapolis, MD

German Language Proficiency Levels 1, 2 and 3

Goethe Institut, Lagos, Nigeria

Advanced Civil Mediation

The Mediation Center

Master of Arts (M.A.), French 1987

University of Lagos, Nigeria

40-Hour Civil Collaborative Training

Bar Association of Montgomery County, Maryland