Lourdes Maria Casanova
President of the Palm Beach County Hispanic Bar Association | Past Co-Chair of the Immigration Section of the Palm Beach County Bench Bar Conference | Super Lawyers “Rising Star” | TV Legal Analyst | Former Prosecutor
Her high school years reflect her motivation to become a lawyer. In addition to the honor of having graduated Valedictorian at Royal Palm Beach High School, Lourdes was involved in different organizations, including the National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society and Student Council. Lourdes served as president of the Spanish Honor Society in 2005.
Lourdes is proud of her Alma Mater and the Florida Gators, as she earned her Bachelor of Arts and Juris Doctor degrees from the University of Florida. She graduated Cum Laude on both occasions. Lourdes studied English, Spanish and Portuguese during her undergraduate studies. As a law student, she completed internships that included civil and criminal court, working both for the State Attorney’s Office and for prestigious personal injury law firms. Lourdes began her legal career as a prosecutor at the Palm Beach County State Attorney’s Office. During her time as an Assistant State Attorney, she litigated hundreds of diverse cases, including domestic violence, theft, juvenile, fish and wildlife violations, DUI, and other crimes. Lourdes conducted more than 40 trials during her time as a prosecutor.
Lourdes later worked for a prominent Coral Gables firm specializing in personal injury and medical malpractice, and then returned to Palm Beach County as an associate of a local criminal defense and immigration firm. Lourdes gained experience in a broad range of immigration matters, including deportation defense, waivers, visas, adjustment of status, and citizenship. During this period, Lourdes also strengthened her skills in criminal law that she had initially acquired during her tenure at the State Attorney’s Office.
In December 2015, Lourdes founded Casanova Law to continue her dream of serving her community through personalized legal services. Lourdes is dedicated to providing individualized, quality representation to each client in the areas of Criminal Defense, DUI, Traffic Tickets, Fish & Wildlife, Sealing & Expunging, Juvenile Court, and Immigration.
Lourdes is passionate about protecting the rights and freedoms of her community, guiding her clients during difficult times, and seeking justice in every case.
AWARDS
Super Lawyers
2019-2022 Rising Stars
Palm Beach County Hispanic Bar Association
2021 Member of the Year
The National Trial Lawyers
2018 Top 40 Under 40
American Institute of Criminal Law Attorneys
2016 10 Best Female Attorneys for Client Satisfaction
MEDIA APPEARANCES
WPTV News Channel 5
Radio 104.1FM and 1190AM La Primera
Buzz TV
ASSOCIATIONS & MEMBERSHIPS
Palm Beach County Hispanic Bar Association
2023 President; 2022 President Elect; 2021 Corresponding Secretary and social media committee; 2020 Board member at large
Palm Beach Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (PBACDL)
Member
Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (FACDL)
Member
Portuguese American Cultural Society (PACS)
Past Member
Palm Beach County Bar Association
Young Lawyers Section; 2021-2022 Co-Chair, Immigration Session, Bench Bar Conference
Florida Association for Women Lawyers (FAWL)
Member
EDUCATION
University of Florida, Levin College of Law
Juris Doctor
Cum Laude; Dean’s List; Book Award, Comprehensive Law Practice; Honors, Appellate Advocacy
University of Florida, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Bachelor of Arts in English and Spanish
Cum Laude; Dean’s List; President’s Honor Roll; College of Liberal Arts & Sciences Anderson Scholar
Royal Palm Beach Community High School
Valedictorian; Pathfinder Nominee for Academic Excellence; AP Scholar with Distinction; President, Spanish Honor Society; Member, National Honor Society; Member, Spanish Club; Member, Student Council
SEMINARS & CONTINUING EDUCATION
Campaign School and Community Leadership Training Program, Florida Institute for Political Leadership
Voluntary Bar Leaders Conference, The Florida Bar
Women on the Bench: Chat with the Experts, Women’s Foundation of FL
Women on the Run, Women’s Foundation of Florida
Pathway to the Bench: Reception and Panel Discussion, Palm Beach County Bar Association
Double your Revenue Workshop, Atticus
Seven Figure Attorney Summit
SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
Palm Beach County Bench Bar Conference
2021 Co-chair & Panelist; 2022 Co-chair & Moderator
Latinos in Action
2020 Guest Speaker at John I. Leonard High School and Woodlands Middle School.
YLS Sidebar Series: The Art of Cross Examination
Panelist
Village of Royal Palm Beach Education Advisory Board Meeting
Guest Speaker
Know your rights as an immigrant, El Sol Immigrant Resource Center
Speaker
Career Day, Crestwood Middle School
Guest speaker
Immigration Reform and Civil Liberties Forum, Palm Beach State College
Panelist
Immigration New Trends, New Developments & Resources, Puerto Rican Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Guest speaker
Immigrant Rights Discussion, El Sol Immigrant Resource Center
Speaker
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
Latinos in Action
20th Anniversary Gala Representative for PBCHBA; Law Micro credential Program Co-writer