PoliSci Grad Makes Community Impact With Law Office

Amal Laassel,’04, is using her legal skills to help the Central Florida community and inspire young girls to explore the legal field.

Laassel was born in Marrakesh, Morocco, and moved to the U.S. when she was 16 years as part of an international student exchange program.  After graduating high school, Laassel majored in Political Science at UCF.

During her time as a legal aid for Orange County, Laassel was also taking political science classes that developed her interest in going to law school. Laassel said she loves reading and legal writing, and enjoyed classes that focused on the law and prepared her for law school

It was also that experience in legal aid that shaped her vision for a future career. Laassel recalled having to turn people down simply because they earned a few dollars above the poverty guidelines.

“It seemed unfair,” Laassel said. “I was put in a position where I didn’t know what to say to these people. They were desperate and on the verge of becoming homeless.”

In 2007, Laassel earned her law degree from the University of Florida Levin College of Law. She started her career at a personal injury law firm in Ocala, where she had the rare opportunity to work alongside the first double board-certified attorney in Florida.  This allowed her to gain invaluable courtroom experience at a fast pace. Laassel eventually moved back to Orlando and joined one of the largest insurance defense firms in the nation and became the youngest attorney to make partner at that firm.

However, Laassel still had a passion for helping people. So in 2014, she traded defending large corporations and insurance companies for becoming a plaintiff’s attorney.  This allowed her to align her legal skills with her personal values.

Laassel is the founder of Laassel Law, a personal injury and immigration law firm in Orlando.  As part of her practice, Laassel provides free consultations to all potential clients.

“Everyone should have access to free legal advice,” Laassel said.

Laassel has also created a Laassel Law Internship Program for middle and high school girls.  LLIP is designed to expose young women to the legal field and inspire them to pursue higher education and join the legal industry.

In the near future, Laassel also plans on creating a scholarship fund for young women interested in pursuing a Pre-Law track at UCF.

“I aim to help people as much as possible.  It is my duty as a citizen and Central Florida resident,” Laassel said. “When you give back, it somehow comes back tenfold.”

Laassel has been named Florida’s Legal Elite Up and Comers by Florida Trend magazine, which represents the top 2 percent of attorneys practicing in the Florida. She has also been selected as a “Women who Means Business” nominee by the Orlando Business Journal, No. 1 Orlando Legal Elite and featured in Orlando Style Magazine.