Overview
Lauren Cusitello serves as Immigration Counsel at Singleton Schreiber's San Diego office, where she practices within the firm's Civil Rights practice group. With nearly two decades of experience, she represents immigrants, asylum seekers, and individuals facing federal criminal charges, bringing a depth of advocacy shaped by her work in public defense, federal litigation, and nonprofit leadership.
Before joining Singleton Schreiber, Lauren served as Legal Director and then Director of the ABA Immigration Justice Project in San Diego. Her career began in 2008 as an Assistant Public Defender at the Miami-Dade Public Defender's Office, where she was recognized as Best Advocate at the Florida Public Defender College. She later returned to her hometown of Sacramento, California, where she worked as an Assistant Federal Defender and co-founded the Federal Defender Clinic at the McGeorge School of Law, training the next generation of criminal defense attorneys.
Lauren's commitment to justice continued as a Trial Attorney with Federal Defenders of San Diego. After spending two years in Japan, she returned to San Diego and founded Crossroads Justice Center of San Diego, a nonprofit law firm specializing in removal defense, federal criminal defense, and post-conviction relief for noncitizens. Her work has consistently focused on protecting the rights of vulnerable individuals navigating complex legal systems.
Lauren is an active member of the California Lawyers Association, Federal Bar Association, National Lawyers Guild, and American Immigration Lawyers Association. She is admitted to practice in California, the United States District Courts for the Eastern and Southern Districts of California, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, and the Executive Office of Immigration Review.
When she's not fighting for justice, Lauren enjoys tennis, trivia, and spending time with her wife and two young sons.
Professional Affiliations
Affiliations
California Lawyers Association
Federal Bar Association
National Lawyers Guild
American Immigration Lawyers Association
Practice Areas
Education
Princeton University, A.B. in Politics, 2002
New York University, J.D., 2005
CUNY School of Professional Studies, Advanced Certificate in Immigration Law, 2015
Admissions
- State of California
- United States District Courts for the Eastern District of California
- United States District Courts for the Southern District of California
- United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
- Executive Office of Immigration Review (EOIR)
Languages
- English
