The Law Offices of James Morris will take the time to understand your legal issues, your values and your goals. We can offer a variety of legal options to protect your interests while promoting your success. To schedule a free consultation with a lawyer, contact The Law Offices of James Morris today.

He attended the State University of New York at Buffalo School of Law, graduating Juris Doctor in 2007. In addition, he graduated in 2007 with a Masters in Business Administration (MBA).

While attending the SUNY – Buffalo School of Law, he was a recipient of the obert J. Connelly Award for Excellence for Trial Advocacy.

Currently, Joseph lives in West Seneca with his wife Jean and his dog Henry.

He is a member of the New York State Bar Association, as well as the Erie County Bar Association.

Frank entered law school at the State University of New York at Buffalo School of Law in 1995 and actively participated in law school government and other organizations. Among Frank’s activities in law school were active participation with the Christian Legal Society, the Prisoners Task Force, the Buffalo Criminal Law Center and as an Editor of the Buffalo Criminal Law Review.

Frank graduated Magna Cum Laude from SUNY-Buffalo School of Law in 1998, and received special honors in the areas of Real Property Law and Criminal Law.

Frank is currently practicing in the areas of Criminal Law, Commercial Litigation, Bankruptcy Law and Zoning.

Frank currently practices in all New York courts and is also admitted to practice before the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, the United States District Court for the Western district of New York and the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of New York.

Frank is a member of the American Bar Association, the New York State Bar Association and the Erie County Bar Association.

Frank currently resides in East Amherst with his wife and two sons, and is a member of Saint Gregory the Great Parish.

Juris Doctor, Magna Cum Laude, State University of New York at Buffalo School of Law, 1998

Mary Beth has been practicing law for seventeen years and has worked at the Law Office of Ralph C. Lorigo since 1990, starting as a law clerk while attending law school.

She obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree, magna cum laude, from the State University of New York at Buffalo in 1989. She attended the State University of New York at Buffalo Law School , where she obtained her Juris Doctor degree in 1992.

Mary Beth was admitted to practice in New York State in 1993 and is also admitted to practice in the United States District Court and United States Bankruptcy Court.

She has served as an instructor in the West Seneca Adult Continuing Education Program and is active in the community through her association with St. Gabriel’s Church in the Town of Elma . She is also a member of the Parent Teacher Organization at Como Park Elementary School as well as the William Street School in the Town of Lancaster.

Mary Beth concentrates her practice in the areas of probate and estate administration, estate and gift taxation and real estate.

Bob was raised in South Buffalo, but has resided in the Town of West Seneca since 1976 where he and his wife, Cindy, are raising their three children. Bob’s daughter is in her first year at Emerson College in Boston. His oldest son is a Junior at west Seneca West High School. His youngest son is in second grade at Potters Road Elementary School. Bob and his family are parishioners of Blessed John the XXIII Parish; a Roman Catholic Church in West Seneca.

If you have any questions regarding any aspect of Commercial or Residential Real Estate Law transactions, please contact Bob via email, or feel free to ask for him when you call our office.

Education:
Juris Doctor, State University of New York at Buffalo School of Law, 1983
Bachelor of the Arts, Cansius College, 1980

His community involvement began at Queen of Heaven where he served on its Board of Directors, as well as being the Coach for the Queen of Heaven Girls Varsity Softball Team. Additionally, he coached the Mt. Mercy Academy Girls J.V. Softball Team, has been an assistant coach in the West Seneca Recreational League, coached the West Seneca Magic Girls Travel Softball Team for several years and is currently as serving as assistant coach for the Sky Girls Travel Softball Team.

He is an avid golfer and is a former member of the Elma Meadows Golf Club where he was a member of its Board of Directors. He and his family belong to St. Gabriel’s Parish and active in its most recent fundraiser for church renovations.

Bob and his family are also actively involved in fundraising efforts at St. Francis High School, St. Francis Cheerleaders and Mt. Mercy Academy and the McCauley auction. His youngest daughter currently attends the State University of New York at Geneseo, and his oldest daughter graduated last year as valedictorian of her class.

On a professional level, Mr. Vario devotes his practice exclusively to the area of divorce and family law matters which also include child support, custody and visitation issues.

He is a member of the Matrimonial and Family Law Committee, the Western New York Matrimonial Trial Lawyers Association, the Family Court Practice and Procedures Committee and the Matrimonial Mediation Committee.

He also serves as a panel Law Guardian in Erie and Niagara County Family Courts where he represents the interests of children in custody and visitation disputes at substantially lowered legal rates.

He also teaches divorce and child support courses for the West Seneca Continuing Adult Education Program and volunteers his time to the annual State University of New York at Buffalo Mock Trial Program where he serves as a Judge and Evaluator.

BS, Providence College, 1975
Juris Doctor, Syracuse University , 1982
Voted “Top Matrimonial Lawyer” by several publications.

After high school, Ralph attended the University of Buffalo and then the University at Buffalo Law School where he graduated with a Juris Doctor degree in May of 1973 At that time he received an award for the “Most Satisfactory Scholastic Progress in the Field of Law” for his final year of law school.

Ralph took the New York State Bar exam in July 1973 and was admitted to the New York State Bar in February of 1974. He has practiced law in the Town of West Seneca ever since.

A member of the New York State and Erie County Bar Association throughout his law career, Ralph was a candidate for New York State Supreme Court in 1993.

He has been active in his community on many levels. He is a member of the West Seneca Lions Club for over 20 years; has been an instructor and advisor in the West Seneca and Cheektowaga Continuing Education Programs for approximately 25 years; was one of the founding members for the West Seneca Youth Court in 1984 and continues to serve on the Executive Board as Vice Chairman and Chairman of the Training Attorneys; and has lectured on numerous occasions to such organizations as volunteer fire companies and the New York State Retiring Teacher’s Association.

Ralph also has a very strong interest in New York State and local politics. Since 1981, he has been involved sitting on the Town Conservative Committee, became West Seneca Town Conservative Chairman, was appointed to the Erie County Executive Board in the 1980′s; became Erie County Vice Chairman in 1991 and became Erie County Conservative Chairman in 1994, a position he still holds today. Recently, Ralph was honored by the New York State Conservative Party, appointing Ralph as a Regional Vice Chairman, overseeing New York ‘s western counties.

As the longest sitting County Chairman in Erie County , Ralph has formed many long lasting relationships with town, county and state governmental officials, as well as a strong involvement in judicial races through Erie County.

Ralph is married to the former Debbie Caruana for over 35 years and they have three children, Michael, Joseph and Jaime. Michael received his undergraduate education degree at RIT and then received an MBA from Canisius College. Joseph graduated Summa Cum Laude from Canisius College and received joint degrees at the State University of New York at Buffalo from the UB School of Law and a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) from the School of Business. Jaime has attended Erie Community College in early childhood development and works in the field currently.

Ralph’s legal office has always been in the Town of West Seneca where it is easily accessible directly off the Thruway (Interstate 90) or Route 219 and he is available for evening or weekend appointments.

Ralph has also been an entrepreneur, having built and sold 72 townhouses in the Town of West Seneca from 1988 through 1991; currently an owner of the Fitness Factory Health Club located in Southgate Plaza and having substantial real estate holdings, both in Erie County and Ocala , Florida.

He has specialized in all aspects of real estate law, including zoning and real estate litigation. He has represented such clients as Benderson Development, Kulback’s Construction Co., Inc., Mobil Oil, Keybank, Marrano/Marc Equity, McDonald’s and others in numerous zoning matters throughout Erie County.

Throughout his extensive law practice, Ralph has handled all kinds of legal matters, including family law, real estate law, estates, Medicaid, criminal law, personal injury, corporate law, business associations and other matters. Today, Ralph’s office consists of five additional attorneys: Robert Vario, Mary Beth Aquiline, Robert Battista, Frank Jacobson and also his son, Joseph Lorigo. These lawyers have now been with Ralph for up to 25 years. Together with the support staff (some of whom have been with Ralph between 20 and 29 years), their goal is to be your “family’s law firm”.

He is a member in good standing of the New York State Bar, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York, the Second Circuit Court of Appeals, and because he is admitted for practice in the Board of Immigration Appeals, he represents clients in Immigration Court and before Citizenship and Immigration Services throughout the country. After practicing criminal and personal injury law, he now limits his practice to Immigration and Citizenship Law, defending cases in the trial court, appeals to the Board of Immigration Appeals and petitions before the Second Circuit Court of Appeals.

He focuses on matters where lasting immigration relief is available for families; those fearful of returning to their home countries; victims of crime, human smuggling or abuse who have cooperated with law enforcement officials. His commitment to providing free legal services was recognized by the Volunteer Lawyers Project in 2004. He is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association and the Bar Association of Erie County.

Professional Memberships:
Bar Association of Erie County
NYS Bar Association
National Association of Consumer Advocates
National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys

Admissions:
New York State Courts
United States District Court for the Western District of New York
United States Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of New York