Shelsea Ramirez is a licensed District of Columbia attorney specializing in government and transactional law, who is working as a law clerk until passage of the Florida Bar. She joins Waugh PLLC from the U.S. Office of Special Counsel, where she served as an Attorney-Advisor and took a lead role in the agency’s Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) program, while also assisting with matters involving prohibited personnel practices. Shelsea is dedicated to developing strategic solutions to navigate legal challenges and deliver tailored results for her clients.

Shelsea began her career as a Program Analyst for the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General focusing on overseas contingency operations. She was awarded the 2022 Council of Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency Evaluation Award for Excellence. She later served as an Attorney-Advisor at the Department of Interior Office of Inspector General, specializing in FOIA compliance.

Shelsea earned a dual Juris Doctor and Master’s in International Affairs from American University’s Washington College of Law and School of International Service. During law school, she was a Senior Staff Editor for the Human Rights Brief and served on the board of the International Law Society. Through her involvement with the Public International Law and Policy Group and the War Crimes Research Office, she developed expertise in legal research and strategic analysis. Her externships included work with the United Nations International Law Commission in Geneva, Switzerland and the Special Jurisdiction for Peace in Bogota, Colombia.

Shelsea holds a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies, magna cum laude, from Soka University of America, with a minor in French.

Outside of work, Shelsea enjoys traveling, reading, and spending time with her family.