John W. Lawit

Founder and Principal Attorney

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John W. Lawit is an experienced immigration attorney and the founder of John W. Lawit, LLC in Irving, Texas. John began his practice of immigration law in 1980, and he began teaching immigration law in 1983. He served as an adjunct professor at both the University of New Mexico School of Law and the Texas Tech University School of Law until 1988. He was also appointed a United States Immigration Judge in 1985.

Mr. Lawit obtained his undergraduate degree from the University of New Mexico, and he went on to earn his Juris Doctor degree at the University of New Hampshire School of Law. He is admitted to practice law in Texas, New Mexico, and Pennsylvania and is a former member of the Canadian Bar Association.

In addition to his legal practice, Mr. Lawit is a former chair of the Immigration Law Section of the State Bar of New Mexico. He was also instrumental in establishing the Immigration Section of the Dallas Bar Association. Mr. Lawit also donates his time to a number of community organizations, including the Human Rights Initiative of North Texas (HRI), the Institute for Spanish Arts, and Healing the Children.

Practice Areas:

• Immigration Law

Bar Admissions:

• New Mexico, 1980
• Texas, 1992
• Pennsylvania, 1978
• Canada, 2010

Education:

• University of New Hampshire - Franklin Law Center, Concord, New Hampshire
  • Juris Doctor
• University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico
  • Bachelor of Arts
  • Dean's List

Honors and Awards:

• Best Business in Irving, TX, Loc8NearMe, 2024
• 10 Best Immigration Lawyers In Albuquerque, TrustAnalytica, 2023
• Listed in Expertise: Best Immigration Lawyers in Albuquerque, recognized since 2022
• Elite Lawyer, recognized since 2022
• U.S. Immigration Judge
• AV Preeminent, Martindale-Hubbell, 2022
• Listed in Best Lawyers in America, recognized since 1991
• Named to Southwest Super Lawyers List, 2008, 2009, 2011-2014

Professional Associations and Memberships:

• Canadian Bar Association, Member
• Immigration Law Section, State Bar of New Mexico, Chair
• Immigration Section, Dallas Bar Association
• American Immigration Lawyers Association, Member
• American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, Member
• Board of the American Civil Liberties Union of New Mexico

Classes and Seminars:

• Adjunct Professor, University of New Mexico School of Law and Texas Tech School of Law, 1983 to 1988
• Instructor, Catholic Social Services, Albuquerque New Mexica, 1989 to 1992

Pro-Bono Activities:

• North Texas Human Rights Initiative (HRI)
• Healing the Children
• Institute for Spanish Arts
• Catholic Social Services of New Mexico in Albuquerque
• Jewish Family Services of New Mexico in Albuquerque

Published Works:

• "Proposition 187-Trashing the Constitution, Torch-American Civil Liberties Union of New Mexico, vol. XXIX, no.3, 1995
• "New Mexico Immigration and Nationality Law Practice Act", Author and Lobbyist, NMSA, 36-3-1, 1987
• "A Look at the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986", Business Outlook, Albuquerque Journal, 1987
• "Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986-Employer Sanctions", Occu-Med Report, Center for Occupational and Preventive Medicine, March/April, 1987
• "Immigration Law for the General Practitioner" , New Mexico Bar Association, 1986
• "SIN Adopta Nuevas Medidas Para Detectae el Fraude Matrimonial, El Hispano, Albuquerque, New Mexico, 1986
• "Welcome to 1984: A Statutory Analysis of Social Service Restrictions Based on Immigration Status.", The Torch, New Mexico Civil Liberties Union, 1984