Sharon L. Ames is a New York-based lawyer who has practiced exclusively in Immigration and Naturalization Law for over ten years. She previously, over her extensive career, represented numerous types of clients in general practice in matters such as family law, defense of municipalities, real estate, criminal defense and matters involving small businesses.
Attorney Ames received her Bachelor of Arts Degree from St. Lawrence University, Magna Cum Laude, with Honors in Government and Spanish. She is a member of Phi Beta Kappa, La Sociedad Nacional Hispanica, and she is listed in Who’s Who Among American College and University Students. She is also a graduate of Syracuse University College of Law, where she earned a Juris Doctorate degree. Her Bar Admissions include New York State , the United States District Court for the Northern and Western Districts of New York, and the Second Circuit Court of Appeals.
Ms. Ames is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, the New York State Bar Association, Northern District of NY Bar Association, New York State Women’s Bar Association, Onondaga County Bar Association and the Onondaga County Women’s Bar Association.
Ms. Ames works with the Monday Night Legal Clinic at Vera House in Syracuse doing pro bono work counseling victims of domestic violence. She is also a Career Mentor for the Junior Achievement Program’s Young Women’s Symposium, and she speaks to middle and high school students as part of the Lawyer in the Classroom program. As an Attorney for the Child in the Onondaga Family Court, she represents unaccompanied minor refugee children to make sure that they are placed in appropriate care situations and have the services they need to make a safe and healthy adjustment to life in the United States.
Attorney Ames has written articles for various publications including CNY Latino and the Ontario(Canada) Bar Association’s Citizenship and Immigration newsletter. She has been an invited speaker for various organizations such as the New York Farm Bureau, the Cortland County Business Development office and the Social Action Committee of the Temple Society of Concord in Syracuse.
As an avid runner and longtime member of the Syracuse Track Club, Ms. Ames served on its Board of Directors for over 15 years. She was a Parent Volunteer in the Syracuse City and Fayetteville-Manlius school districts. She was also a “host family” to inner city girls attending Fayetteville-Manlius High School as part of the ABC (A Better Chance) Program.
Ms. Ames is fluent in Spanish, and provides legal consultation and representation to individuals and businesses with Immigration concerns.
