Written By: Ji Zhang
Astrid Quiñones’s path from eager law student to accomplished immigration practitioner reflects a deep commitment to advocacy, intellectual curiosity, and an openness to growth shaped by experience. Currently, Astrid is a Senior Immigration Attorney at Portner & Shure, P.A., a personal injury and criminal defense firm headquartered in Columbia, Maryland, where she focuses primarily on immigration law, complemented by a family law practice tied to immigration relief. Over the course of her career, Astrid has developed a practice that blends litigation, client counseling, and complex statutory work that is grounded in a broader commitment to serving vulnerable communities.
Born in Puerto Rico and the eldest daughter of immigrants, Astrid brings a diverse personal background to her work. She attended Fairfield University in Connecticut, where she designed her own interdisciplinary major in social work and justice. Her undergraduate studies drew from psychology, sociology, economics, political science, and philosophy, creating a strong academic foundation that would later inform her work as a legal advocate.
As a first-generation college student, Astrid did not initially envision a path to law school when she first arrived on campus at Fairfield. Instead, her desire to pursue a legal education developed gradually, driven by both personal experiences and formative professional opportunities. Astrid’s earliest exposure to the legal system was deeply personal, arising from her family’s involvement in a criminal case during her childhood. The prosecutor in that case remained a presence in her life, ultimately serving as an important example of the opportunities that the legal profession can provide. After college, Astrid spent a year in Los Angeles working at a shelter with survivors of domestic violence, a period that would prove to be pivotal in her career trajectory. With the encouragement of her supervisor at the shelter, whom she calls both a friend and mentor, she began to seriously consider law school. Astrid navigated the application process through persistence and resourcefulness, studying independently for the LSAT while living on a limited stipend. Despite her time spent in New England and on the West Coast, she ultimately made the decision to move to Central New York to pursue her law degree at Syracuse University College of Law.
At Syracuse, Astrid simultaneously pursued her J.D. and Master of Public Administration, requiring her to balance a demanding academic schedule with extensive extracurricular involvement. She was a member of Syracuse Law Review, participated in Moot Court, and competed in alternative dispute resolution competitions, earning the title of Best Advocate at the Bond, Schoeneck & King Alternative Dispute Resolution competition in 2017. Further, Astrid also served as president of the Asian Pacific American Law Students Association and was actively involved in other student organizations, including the Black Law Students Association, Latin American Law Student Association, and the Cold Case Justice Initiative. Additionally, Astrid’s devotion to promote and advance diversity, equity and inclusion at the College of Law was evident in her advocacy as a student and later as a SULAA board member and Inclusion Network Chair.
Reflecting on her time in law school, Astrid describes her Law Review experience as a key part of her development, noting that the editing and writing process sharpened her ability to analyze complex issues and approach legal questions from multiple perspectives. Her Note focused on the Fourth Amendment and search and seizure, particularly arguing that the “reasonable under the circumstances” standard in police brutality cases should be reconsidered. Her fondest memory is spending time in the Law Review office with her rescue puppy Zora who sat next to the computer monitors while Astrid completed her Bluebook edits.
Following graduation, Astrid clerked for fellow Syracuse College of Law graduate Judge James Pickering in Cape May County, New Jersey. This experience allowed her to gain firsthand insight into the judicial process and further develop her litigation skills. In 2019, Astrid joined Ayuda, a nonprofit organization that provides legal, social, and language services to low-income immigrants, as a staff attorney in its Maryland office. Additionally, she was a founding member of the Maryland Domestic Violence and Family Law program at Ayuda, serving immigrants in domestic violence, family law, and crime victims’ rights advocacy. Although her work frequently involved immigrant communities, her initial focus was not on practicing in immigration law. Over time, however, she became more directly involved in immigration matters and discovered a practice area defined by complexity, variety, and careful legal analysis, qualities which ultimately drew her in.
Prior to her current role as Senior Immigration Attorney, Astrid held an interim managing position at Portner & Shure, during which she audited the firm’s immigration caseload, then totaling over 400 cases. Through that process, she identified and addressed existing issues, conducted necessary triage, and ensured that each case was brought into proper order. Today, her practice focuses on immigration law, where she represents clients in both administrative and court proceedings.
Reflecting on her career, Astrid emphasizes the importance of flexibility and exploration, particularly for first-generation law students. She notes that the legal profession offers a wide range of paths, many of which are not visible to those entering law school without prior exposure. Astrid encourages students to seek out opportunities, build new skills, and remain open to change, rather than feeling confined to a single trajectory. “The sky’s the limit, but nothing is permanent,” she explains. “If you don’t like something, you can change it. If you’re interested in something new, find a way to try it.” This perspective has guided her own career, from her early work in family law to her eventual transition into immigration practice. It also reflects a broader theme that permeates throughout her professional journey: a willingness to adapt, a commitment to continuous learning, and a belief that meaningful legal work often emerges from unexpected paths.
Outside of her professional career, Astrid maintains a strong commitment to volleyball, which has become an important part of her life. She began casually playing on an intramural team during law school, where her team finished an undefeated season. Today, that interest has evolved into playing multiple times a week in recreational leagues and tournaments, where she has built a strong sense of community even after relocating to a new city without an existing network. Volleyball has provided not only a competitive outlet, but also a way to form meaningful personal connections. Most notably, it is how she met her husband Sinan, with whom she now frequently plays. For Astrid, the sport offers both balance and continuity, reinforcing the value of community and personal well-being alongside the demands of a legal career.
Astrid Quiñones’s career reflects a strong commitment to professional excellence and meaningful advocacy. From her early experiences as a first-generation college student to her current work in immigration law, she has remained grounded in resilience, adaptability, and service. Her journey highlights the value of embracing new challenges and remaining open to growth. The Syracuse Law Review extends its sincere gratitude to Astrid Quiñones for her contributions to the publication and the broader Syracuse College of Law community. In recognition of her achievements, the Law Review is proud to honor her with the Alumni Achievement Award for Volume 76.