Maria Rios Landin was born in Mexico and raised in Las Vegas. Even before entering the William S. Boyd School of Law, Maria already had an extensive background in family law. Maria worked for ten years as a paralegal and law clerk, assisting attorneys navigate and appear in complex family law matters. After her admittance into Boyd Law School, Maria's talent and perseverance were quickly recognized; she earned several awards acknowledging her apt legal skills, including the Outstanding Student of Adjustment of Status and Deportation Defense Class and the CALI award in Opening Statements and Closing Arguments.
In law school, Maria furthered her knowledge of family law, where, as a student-attorney, she mediated cases in the Eighth Judicial District's Family Court. Maria graduated from Boyd in 2023, and after just five months of admission to the Nevada State Bar, Maria opened her own law firm. Maria's practice focuses on family law and criminal defense; she states: "I believe in making a positive impact on people's lives and fighting for freedom and justice."
Maria's dedication to positively impacting the community is reflected in her pro bono work. She first started by taking cases in our CAP unit, representing minors. She recalls her first case advocating for a five-year-old child victimized by domestic abuse and neglect. This case allowed her to recognize how she could utilize her skill set to assist people in need; she mentions: "I do pro bono work because I am passionate about serving others and believe that everyone should have access to legal services."
Her most memorable case was facilitating a divorce for a client suffering from severe domestic violence, helping her client create a 'new chapter' of her life. When asked about her motivation for participating in pro bono legal advocacy, she revealed that her own previous experiences with a pro bono attorney inspired her: "I obtained what I needed thanks to someone's kindness and willingness to help me, so I want to do the same for others."
Maria regularly participates as a volunteer attorney in our Children's Attorneys Project, Family Law Program, and Immigration Program.
For her dedication and commitment to pro bono, we honor Maria Rios Landin as our January 2025 Volunteer of the Month!
