Biography
Professor Maria Desiree Suarez teaches Legal Skills and Values I & II, bringing to the classroom her unique perspective as both a former federal attorney and private immigration litigation attorney. Drawing on her experience with the U.S. Department of Justice and her leadership of an immigration litigation department in private practice, she teaches students to think critically, write precisely and effectively, and approach legal problems with both rigor and integrity.
Before joining FIU College of Law, Professor Suarez served as Attorney Supervisor of the Appeals and Removal Defense Department at GFI Immigration Law, where she led a team handling complex immigration matters, helped develop and expand the removal defense practice, and trained junior attorneys and recent law school graduates.
She began her career through the prestigious U.S. Department of Justice Honors Program, serving as a Judicial Law Clerk and Attorney Advisor with the Executive Office for Immigration Review. During her tenure at DOJ, she served in three immigration courts—San Antonio, Texas; New York, New York; and Miami, Florida—gaining broad experience in immigration law across multiple federal circuits.
Professor Suarez earned her Juris Doctor, magna cum laude, from the University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law. During law school, she served as Managing Editor of the Law Review and was awarded the Dean’s Fellow distinction for her outstanding academic and professional contributions. She is also a proud first-generation graduate who holds an MBA from St. Thomas University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Florida International University.
A native of Nicaragua and raised in Miami, Professor Suarez is proud of her roots as a first-generation college and law graduate. She is active in professional organizations, including the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), the Miami-Dade Bar, the Florida Bar, and the Legal Writing Institute. Beyond practice, Professor Suarez is deeply committed to legal education and mentorship. She is passionate about supporting first-generation students and attorneys and expanding access to legal education.
In her free time, Professor Suarez enjoys running, playing tennis, traveling, reading, listening to audiobooks, crocheting, and baking as well as trying new cooking recipes.
Education
- J.D., magna cum laude, University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law
- M.B.A., St. Thomas University
- B.A., Florida International University