Cyprianne L. Rookwood, Esq., LLM.
After graduating with her B.A. from the University of Miami, Ms. Rookwood attended the University of Florida Fredric G. Levin College of Law (UF Law). There, she was actively involved in campus organizations, serving as president of the Family Law Society, a member of the Judicial Committee, a student coach for the UF Law Alternative Dispute Resolution Team, a proud member of the Black Law Students Association, as well as an executive board member of several other organizations. Ms. Rookwood was also a student research fellow for the UF Center on Children and Families, where she worked to connect with organizations across the State of Florida that interact with young adults and teenagers to educate them about their legal rights and responsibilities as citizens.
During her final year at UF Law, Ms. Rookwood interned as a law clerk for a judge serving on the Eighth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida, where she wrote memoranda of law on complex family law issues, including custody, visitation, and relocation, as well as other procedural issues. Ms. Rookwood also had the opportunity to intern in the domestic violence division of the State Attorney’s Office for the Eighth Judicial Circuit of Florida, where she conducted legal research on evidentiary and procedural issues in criminal law among other things. Ms. Rookwood graduated from UF Law with her Juris Doctor (J.D.) and earned her Certificate in Family Law from one of the top-ranked family law programs in the nation, as well as earning her Certificate in Criminal Law from one of the top criminal law programs in the country. Visit https://www.law.ufl.edu/why-uf-law/our-reputation to learn more about these UF Law programs.
After completing law school, Ms. Rookwood returned to New York City, where she started her career as an assistant district attorney with the Richmond County District Attorney’s Office (RCDA). Ms. Rookwood was assigned to prosecute misdemeanor cases, including Assault 3, petit larceny, criminal possession of a weapon, criminal possession of a controlled substance, criminal mischief, driving while intoxicated/impaired, marijuana-related charges, endangering the welfare of a child, and certain domestic violence cases.
After a year with the RCDA, Ms. Rookwood realized that as much as she had wanted to change the system from the inside, she had a better chance at challenging it from the outside, so she launched her own law practice in an effort to help those disenfranchised by the criminal justice system and to prevent others from getting caught up in the system. Ms. Rookwood believes in the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. — “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere” — and is a passionate advocate for justice and equity. She believes that justice shouldn’t be a foreign concept available only to those who can afford it. Therefore, she’s willing to work with clients with financial hardships to make sure that they, too, have access to competent legal representation.
Ms. Rookwood is a firm believer in social justice lawyering and has dedicated her career to that. In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Ms. Rookwood became inspired by the worldwide social justice protests triggered by the murder of George Floyd. This led her to expand her knowledge in international human rights law. Ms. Rookwood spent a year in the Netherlands, where she studied and obtained her Master of Laws (LLM) in European and International Human Rights Law from Leiden University. She intends to use the knowledge she has gained to be a better advocate for her clients.
When it comes to family law, Ms. Rookwood’s personal experience with her own divorce and child custody litigation sets her apart from other attorneys in that she understands the emotional toll family court cases can have on her clients and their families. Ms. Rookwood uses her personal experience in understanding and, ultimately, helping her clients navigate the family court system. Her personal experience with family court and her past position as a prosecutor have given her the insight necessary to handle not only the legal aspect of her clients’ cases, but also the human side and the impact that contact with the judicial system can have on a person’s life. Ms. Rookwood will zealously advocate for your rights, and she will make sure your voice is heard every step of the way.
So, if you’re looking for an attorney who will fight for your legal rights and zealously advocate for you, look no further!
Associations:
- New York State Bar Association
- New York City Bar Association
- Metropolitan Black Bar Association
- Of Counsel to the Brooklyn Bar Volunteer Lawyer Project