About Madeline
Madeline Pichardo-Riestra earned her law degree from Florida A&M University College of Law, receiving her J.D. in 2016. She moved from the classroom into public service quickly. Her legal education laid the groundwork for practice in Florida courts and agencies.
Her first post-law school position was as an Assistant State Lawyer and prosecutor at the State Lawyer’s Office in 2017. There she handled courtroom matters and gained early trial experience. The role required managing case files, preparing motions, and presenting arguments before judges. It also exposed her to high-pressure timelines and the procedural demands of criminal and civil litigation.
In 2019 she joined Florida’s Department of Children and Families’ Children’s Legal Services as a Senior Lawyer. That position involved representation in dependency cases and related hearings. She worked on matters that often intersected family law, child welfare statutes, and evidentiary challenges. The work required careful advocacy on behalf of children and close coordination with social workers, guardians ad litem, and court personnel.
Over the years Pichardo-Riestra has maintained professional memberships that keep her connected to peers and developments in the field. Colleagues and court staff describe her as methodical and direct in her courtroom approach. She has handled both bench and contested hearings and navigated the procedural distinctions those settings demand.
Pichardo-Riestra now practices from Pichardo-Riestra Law, based in Florida. Her practice draws on experience at the State Lawyer’s Office and at DCF’s Children’s Legal Services. At her firm she handles matters that arise out of child welfare and dependency systems and represents clients in related court proceedings. She continues to work in Florida courts and remain engaged with professional networks that inform her day-to-day practice.
