I help green card holders enforce their rights under the Form I-864, Affidavit of Support. My firm represents clients throughout the United States in lawsuits against Form I-864 sponsors.
Practice areas
Immigration Support Advocates
724 S. Yakima Ave., Suite 100
Tacoma, WA, 98405
State | Status | Acquired | Updated |
---|---|---|---|
WA | Active | 2009 | 02/24/2021 |
Award name | Grantor | Date granted |
---|---|---|
Annual pro bono award | American Immigration Lawyers Association - Washington Chapter | 2017 |
Rising Star | Super Lawyers | 2015 |
Anual Pro Bono Award | American Immigration Lawyers Association - Washington Chapter | 2014 |
Washington Young Lawyer Committe Public Service Incentive Award | Washington State Bar Association | 2014 |
Certificate of Appreciation (for mentor program) | American Immigration Lawyers Association (Washington Chapter) | 2013 |
Pat Giels Memorial Award | University of Nebraska College of Law, Immigration Clinic | 2009 |
---|---|---|
Elmer J. Jackson Law Scholarship (merit-based) | University of Nebraska College of Law | 2006 |
Title | Company name | Duration |
---|---|---|
Managing attorney | Sound Immigration | 2012 - Present |
Part-time associate attorney | Seifert Law Offices | 2012 - 2012 |
Judicial law clerk | Washington State Superior Court for Kitsap County | 2010 - 2012 |
Research editor | Immigration Law and Procedure, Bender-Lexis | 2009 - 2010 |
Student Attorney | University of Nebraska College of Law, Immigration Clinic | 2008 - 2009 |
Teaching Assistant, Legal Research and Writing | University of Nebraska College of Law | 2008 - 2008 |
---|---|---|
Law Clerk, Welfare Due Process Project | Nebraska Appleseed Center for Law in the Public Interest | 2007 - 2009 |
Association name | Position name | Duration |
---|---|---|
American Immigration Lawyers Association (Washington State chapter) | Chair - Law Practice and Technology Committee | 2014 - Present |
Steering Committee - 9th Annual Washington State Bar Association Solo and Small Firm Conference | Member | 2014 - Present |
Solo & Small Practice Section, Washington State Bar Association | Chair | 2014 - Present |
American Bar Association | Member | 2014 - Present |
American Immigration Lawyers Association (Washington State chapter) | Secretary | 2014 - 2015 |
American Immigration Lawyers Association, Washington Chapter | Ad hoc Technology Committee Member | 2013 - 2013 |
---|---|---|
American Immigration Lawyers Association (Washington State chapter) | Treasurer | 2013 - 2014 |
Solo & Small Practice Section, Washington State Bar Association | Executive Committee Member | 2013 - 2013 |
Washington State Bar Association, Solo and Small Practice Section | Chair Elect | 2013 - 2014 |
American Immigration Law Association | New Members Division Committee Chair, Washington Chapter | 2012 - 2013 |
Washington State Bar Association, Solo and Small Practice Section | Young Lawyers Committee Liaison | 2012 - 2013 |
Immigrant Families Advocacy Project - University of Washington School of Law | Attorney mentor | 2012 - 2014 |
Steering Committee - 8th Annual Washington State Bar Association Solo and Small Firm Conference | Member | 2012 - 2013 |
Kitsap County Bar Association | Continuing Legal Education Chair, Young Lawyers Division | 2010 - 2012 |
Equal Justice Society, University of Nebraska College of Law | President | 2007 - 2009 |
Allies and Advocates for GLBT Equality | Co-founder and vice president | 2007 - 2008 |
Publication name | Title | Date |
---|---|---|
Bender's Immigration Bulletin | The Back Office In Bangalore: Clarifying the Ethics of Legal Process Outsourcing | 2017 |
NWLawyer | Pro Bono Lawyers Race to the Airports | 2017 |
Bender's Immigration Bulletin | Suing on the I-864 Affidavit of Support: December 2016 Update | 2017 |
American Bar Association, Family Law Quarterly | The I-864 Affidavit of Support: An Intro to the Immigration Form You Must Learn to Love/Hate | 2015 |
King County Bar Association News | Nine Mistaken Beliefs about Immigrants and the Law | 2015 |
School name | Degree | Graduated |
---|---|---|
Washington Leadership Institute | Fellow | 2015 |
University of Nebraska College of Law | JD - Juris Doctor | 2009 |
University of Washington | BA - Bachelor of Arts | 2004 |
Conference name | Title | Date |
---|---|---|
Insight Series | Kanban Visual Project Management for Your Law Practice | 2017 |
Annual Conference | Staying Motivated for Your Law Practice – An Evidence-Based Approach | 2017 |
Annual Conference | Law Firm Business Planning with the Lean Business Canvas | 2017 |
Annual Conference | Law Firm Branding - It's Not Your Logo, It's Your Life | 2017 |
The 21st Century Lawyer | Agile Project Management for Lawyers | 2016 |
Monthly CLE | Free and Low-Cost Technology for Your Law Firm | 2016 |
---|---|---|
Low Bono CLE | Legal Tech Set-Up | 2016 |
Low Bono CLE | The Ethics of Marketing Your Practice | 2016 |
Essentials of Employment Law | Immigration Issues | 2016 |
7 Keys to Managing a 21st Century Practice | What Every Attorney Needs to Know About E-Signatures and Submission of On-Line Forms | 2016 |
Post-doctoral seminar series | Psycholegal Standards In U.S. Immigration Law | 2015 |
National Organization for Victim Assistance | Immigration Financial Support; A Tool for Helping Survivors Achieve Independence | 2015 |
Community meeting | Psycholegal Standards In U.S. Immigration Law | 2015 |
Annual Regional Immigration Law Conference | Affidavit of Support; Advanced topics | 2015 |
Advocate training | The I-864 Affidavit of Support; A strategy for supporting vulnerable immigrants | 2015 |
10th Annual Washington State Bar Association Solo and Small Practice Conference | Creating Fee Agreements | 2015 |
10th Annual Washington State Bar Association Solo and Small Practice Conference | Immigration Insights for the Every-Lawyer | 2015 |
Unleashing the Power of Microsoft Office and Adobe for Lawyers | Legal Ethics: Tips For Everyday Practice | 2014 |
Social Justice Monday | Not Your Grandma's Law Practice | 2014 |
Seattle Legal Technology Startup Weekend | Legal Next | 2014 |
Post-doctoral seminar series | Psycholegal Standards In U.S. Immigration Law | 2014 |
New Members Division CLE | Technology for Starting an Immigration Practice | 2014 |
Monthly CLE | I-864 Advanced Issues; Enforcement, 40 Quarters Rule and Joint Sponsor Ethics | 2014 |
Introduction to the Practice of Law in Pierce County | Running a Paperless Law Office | 2014 |
Business Development 101: Tools and Techniques to Build a Successful Law Practice | The Ethics of Using Social Media | 2014 |
Bridging the Gap | Introduction to Immigration: Practicing Happy Law | 2014 |
Arctic Encounter Symposium | Rights of Access for American Indians and Inuit Born in Canada | 2014 |
9th Annual Washington State Bar Association Solo and Small Practice Conference | Branding Your Practice in a DIY World | 2014 |
9th Annual Washington State Bar Association Solo and Small Practice Conference | Keynote Address: The Small Firm Advantage | 2014 |
9th Annual Washington State Bar Association Solo and Small Practice Conference | The Ethics of Flat Fee Billing | 2014 |
9th Annual Washington State Bar Association Solo and Small Practice Conference | Cocktail Reception Law: Substantive Law Issues You May Face | 2014 |
Washington State Bar Association Solo & Small Firm Conference | Staff Up or Staff Out? Getting the Help You Need to Run Your Practice | 2013 |
Washington State Bar Association Solo & Small Firm Conference | Retirement and Succession Planning for the Solo and Small Firm | 2013 |
Representative Derek Kilmer | Immigration issues roundtable | 2013 |
Post-doctoral seminar series | Psychological Hardship; Forensic evaluations in immigration law | 2013 |
Monthly Bar Lunch | The I-864 Affidavit of Support; Why Your Client has to Pay Spousal Support Forever | 2013 |
Issues Forum | House Bill 1079; the DREAM Act Forum | 2013 |
How to Start Your Own Law Firm: A Step by Step Approach | Choosing Hardware and Software for a Law Practice | 2013 |
Free and Low-Cost Tech for Your Law Practice | Technology for Managing the Business Side of The Practice | 2013 |
Continuing Legal Education Seminar | Immigration Law for the Non-Immigration Lawyer | 2013 |
Can’t Miss Ideas, Opportunities & Innovations to Re-Energize Your Practice | No Cost and Low Cost Technology to Manage Your Law Practice | 2013 |
Bi-Monthly Job Seeker Group | Solo Practice Panel | 2013 |
Annual conference | Immigration Issues in Family Law Cases | 2013 |
2013 Spring Continuing Legal Education Program | Immigration Law 101 | 2013 |
Post-doctoral seminar series | Psychological hardship evaluations in immigration law | 2012 |
Paralegal Program | Immigration Law in 40 Minutes; Practicing Happy Law | 2012 |
Monthly CLE | The I-864 Affidavit of Support; Why your client has to pay spousal maintenance forever | 2012 |
Immigration Law & Interpreter Services CLE | Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals | 2012 |
Immigration & Interpreter Services CLE | The I-864 Affidavit of Support; Why your client has to pay spousal maintenance forever | 2012 |
Annual International Conference | Psychology Testimony in Immigration Law: An Empirical Examination of Hardship Waiver Decisions | 2012 |
Adult Basic Education Program | Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals – What you need to know | 2012 |
Annual international conference | Extreme hardship evaluations in immigration law | 2009 |
Case name | Outcome |
---|---|
Reunite Army combat veteran | Canadian spouse allowed to enter U.S. |
Motion to reopen | The motion was granted and the client was able to remain in the U.S. as a permanent resident. |
I-864 Settlement | Cash settlement |
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Clint Dunaway, Immigration Attorney on Jan 2, 2020
Relationship: Other
I can endorse Mr. McLawsen as an expert in the realm of immigration law. There have been times when I was performing legal research and came across different things that he has written and been very impressed at the accuracy and timeliness of his work.
Minda Thorward, Immigration Attorney on Jul 3, 2017
Relationship: Worked for lawyer
Greg has done an excellent job building Washington State's first web-based immigration law firm. In our local immigration attorney community, Greg is the go-to resource for technology advice and related resources. He has made a point of offering free continuing legal education online trainings, and is also the local expert on enforcement litigation. Greg was also instrumental in creating airportlawyer.org. I highly recommend his legal services and admire his technical expertise.
When I started my law practice, Greg’s was one of a small handful of law firms whose approach I knew I wanted to model mine after. Whether taking questions live on social media, or organizing a virtual network of talent, Greg is always looking for new ways to reach and serve his clients. I endorse Greg because he is innovative, forward-thinking, and client-centered.
Shreya Biswas, Immigration Attorney on Dec 2, 2016
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
Do you want an attorney in a boring gray suit, sitting in a stereotypical office? Or do you want an attorney-ninja with mad nunchuck skills? My guess is that you want the attorney with mad nunchuck skills because you KNOW that any attorney with the dedication and discipline to develop these skills would bring that same ninja-like focus to helping his clients. Greg gets things done and I'm happy to refer clients to him and his law firm because I know that anyone he employs will also have attorney-ninja skills. Don't hire a typical attorney. Hire a ninja. (and he uses technology to make everyone's lives easier too)
Jordan Couch, Immigration Attorney on Apr 28, 2016
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
I met Greg through our shared interest in using technology to help clients get results faster and cheaper. He is a phenomenal attorney and a wonderful person to work with. I have brought a few questions and referrals to Greg and he is always quick to help out.
Adam Teal, Immigration Attorney on Mar 25, 2015
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
Greg is extremely knowledgable, I would feel comfortable referring any client looking for immigration help to him.
Olga Guzhva, Immigration Attorney on Jul 10, 2014
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
I endorse this lawyer. Greg McLawsen is very knowledgeable and professional attorney with extensive experience in immigration law.
Daniel Lear, Immigration Attorney on May 13, 2014
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
I met Greg initially through the "Future of the Law" committee on which we both serve for the Washington State Bar Association. I admire Greg because he's a "doer" not necessarily a "talker" unlike many on the committee (including, sometimes, me). Greg actions in his practice, for the Solo and Small Firm Division of the Bar, on the Future of Law Committee and in a number of other areas demonstrate that he is clearly committed to serving his clients and the greater Puget Sound legal community. Greg is top notch.
Greg is a knowledgeable, careful, and personable attorney. I have interacted with Greg on many occasions, and have always been impressed with his competence and demeanor. I would not hesitate to recommend him to anyone in the Puget Sound area seeking advice or representation regarding immigration issues.
Brandon Gillin, Immigration Attorney on Feb 6, 2014
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
I endorse Greg. He's a highly motivated and sharp attorney. He has made a name for himself not only in immigration law, but in leadership as well. I wouldn't hesitate to refer clients to him.
I endorse this lawyer.
Brenda Wood, Immigration Attorney on Nov 22, 2013
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
Greg is a go getter that cares about the well-being of his clients. His passion to serve clients and gather a deeper understanding about immigration reform is exemplified through the numerous articles he has published on several different immigration topics. In addition, he is sharp, organized, on-time and on the cutting edge of technology. His understanding of technology, how to use it, and how it can benefit his law practice and clients produces convenience and ultimately lower costs for his clients. I give Greg a “thumbs up” and would recommend him to anyone facing immigration issues.
Aliya Alisheva, Immigration Attorney on Oct 1, 2013
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
I endorse this lawyer.
Kevin Burke, Immigration Attorney on Sep 4, 2013
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
Mr McLawsen's answers on Avvo demonstrate a depth of knowledge of immigration law and a profound ability to analyze complex legal problems. I am happy to endorse him.
Kim-Khanh Van, Immigration Attorney on Aug 8, 2013
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
I endorse this lawyer.
Russell Mikow, Immigration Attorney on Aug 1, 2013
Relationship: Worked together on matter
I endorse this lawyer. Greg makes the overly complex set of US Immigration statutes understandable to his clients and diligently navigates the system to achieve the best results possible for his clients. That's why I choose to work with him as situations arise.
Frank Selden, Immigration Attorney on Apr 24, 2013
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
I endorse this lawyer to expertly handle your immigration issues.
Kinnon Williams, Immigration Attorney on Mar 7, 2013
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
I have worked with Greg on a number of State Bar Association activities. Greg brings a new look and innovation to his legal practice. He is concerned and committed to his clients and the legal community.
Autumn Johnson, Immigration Attorney on Jan 28, 2013
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
Greg is a competent and passionate attorney. I would not hesitate to send immigration law questions his way or refer him clients. I believe him to be knowledgeable and really care about his work and his practice. I am happy to endorse him.
Laureen Lane, Immigration Attorney on Nov 23, 2012
Relationship: Other
I endorse this lawyer.
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