MEET THE TEAM

Experienced and Strategic

AMY L. ORLANDO

Partner

Amy is the former District Attorney in Doña Ana County. Prior to becoming District Attorney, she was a prosecutor in the same office for sixteen years. Upon leaving that post, Amy served New Mexico as Deputy Secretary for the Department of Public Safety where she focused on administrative and employment issues. While at DPS she also gained experience in civil rights litigation and mediation.  Amy also worked for the Children, Youth, and Families Department focusing on juvenile justice. She ended her State career at the Department of Corrections where she focused on prisoners' rights, specifically working to train staff and educate inmates regarding the agency's no tolerance for sexual assaults. Amy is now the founding partner of The Justice Legal Team, LLC where she uses her experience to defend clients in criminal cases, assist them with administrative and employment issues, and help them resolve family law matters.  Let Amy put her experience to work for you.

SUSANA MACIAS

Managing Partner

Prior to becoming an attorney, Susana worked within the legal field in varying capacities. Susana worked for the District Attorney's Office in Doña Ana County assisting with the prosecution of criminal cases. She was a legal assistant for the Child Support Enforcement Division and upon leaving that position, became a supervisor in the largest magistrate court in the state. There, she also served as a mediator in a pilot program that is now used in all magistrate courts in the State. Susana then served as an administrative assistant/law clerk to a district court judge handling primarily family law matters. Upon becoming a licensed attorney, she joined Amy at the Justice Legal Team, LLC where she uses her experience to assist clients in the areas of family law and criminal defense. Susana also possesses her certificate in Alternative Dispute Resolution and is a member of the New Mexico Mediation Association. She offers mediation services in any area of law. Susana is ready to represent clients as an attorney or to put the decision power in the hands of the parties as a mediator.

VANESSA DE LEÓN

Associate Attorney

E. Vanessa de León joins the Justice Legal Team with over twenty years of professional experience working with government agencies, policies, administrative laws, and regulations. Vanessa is certified within the field of education in several areas including superintendent, principal, school counselor, and teacher. In addition, Vanessa holds a Doctorate in Educational Leadership and serves as an assistant professor of school law with several publications involving educational leadership, school reform, administrative policy, and equity issues concerning marginalized populations. Her certificates and training in alternative dispute resolution make Vanessa a fierce advocate for student rights, especially for special needs students requiring support during IDEA/504 school hearings. Her vast experience as a former administrator and now licensed attorney make her uniquely qualified to represent client issues involving contracts, employment, administrative disputes, and education/special education services. Allow Vanessa’s experience, knowledge, and skills to confidently represent your interests both in and out of the courtroom.

ELIZA G. LYNCH

Law Clerk

Eliza is a recent law school graduate and is pending bar admission in New Mexico and in South Carolina. She grew up in Minnesota and attended college at the University of Wisconsin - La Crosse, where she swam at the Division III level. Eliza then moved to Raleigh, North Carolina and maintained full time employment as a paralegal and an in-house contract associate while attending law school. Eliza's ability to successfully juggle a career while attending law school is evidence of her multifaceted and substantial capabilities. As a law student, Eliza served as an editor and was published in the Mitchell Hamline Law Review. Her article, A Change in Military Pension Division: The End of Court-Adjudicated Indemnification - Howell v. Howell, provides an analytical and practical resource to military divorce practitioners nationwide and has been cited by the New Jersey Appellate Court as persuasive authority. Eliza is full of ambition and equipped with skills and instincts to handle a wide range of legal challenges.

SHANNON FITZGERALD

Paralegal

One of our most respected team members, Shannon, is ready to put all her knowledge to work for your case. After receiving her Associate Degree in paralegal studies, Shannon began her paralegal career in 2004. Shannon's experience allows her to assist in a wide array of areas within family law. Shannon began by interning for a firm who specialized in wills and probate. She then worked for New Mexico Child Support Enforcement Division and later, the South Dakota Division of Child Support, serving in the capacities of child support legal assistant, child support specialist, and finally supervisor with these agencies. Upon moving to Colorado, Shannon worked for Adams County Human Services as a Community Specialist II. This experience gave Shannon insight into employment issues faced by employers and employees alike. 
Clients can expect to be met by Shannon always with a smile and professional disposition. Shannon is happy to bring her many years of experience to the table and is ready to put her experience to work for the team.

MERLA REYES

Legal Assistant

Merla, a native to Las Cruces, NM, joined The Justice Legal Team, LLC early on and has been a critical asset to our firm ever since. She joined the team following a long and rewarding 28-year career with the Las Cruces Police Department. There she served the Department by maintaining statistics, assigning work to detectives, and assisting in investigations by researching within various databases and law enforcement resources. Throughout her career, Merla has fostered vital professional relationships and has learned the intimate workings of the criminal justice system. Her knowledge of law enforcement procedures and practices makes Merla an invaluable asset to the The Justice Legal Team, LLC and to our clients.