“I became an attorney to level the playing field.”

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Attorney Mariam Alexanian Lavoie has been a proud member of the Rhode Island Bar Association for over 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.

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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 but wanted some real-life experience before entering legal academia..

 

​“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 deserve to have the same top notch legal representation as those who can afford the best.”   

 

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 in the workers’ compensation arena 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 equally 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.

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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. 

 

Attorney Lavoie founded Lavoie Law in 2018.   She likes to say Lavoie Law is her third (menopausal) child.  Lavoie Law was created to provide boutique stye personalized representation to those unable to medically keep up with the rigors of full-time work.   Attorney Lavoie truly cares for every client.  She meets with each client personally and, together, they create a legal strategy that best matches the client’s individualized needs and medical conditions.  The goal in every case is a fully favorable decision as soon as possible.   Attorney Lavoie is surrounded by an extraordinary team that shares her passion and standards of excellence in advocacy and client care.

 

Attorney Lavoie has represented hundreds of adults and children before Social Security Administrative Law Judges in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, and New Hampshire.  She enjoys giving frequent presentations related to Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits before attorneys, medical providers, and patient support groups.    She is an active and sustaining member of the National Organization of Social Security Claimant’s Representatives (NOSSCR), the Rhode Island Association for Justice and the Rhode Island Bar Association’s Social Security Sub-Committee.

Attorney Lavoie is admitted to practice in Massachusetts and the United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island.

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“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.”

~ Mariam Alexanian Lavoie