Meet the Attorney

I am Laurence E. Stevens. I have been a lawyer for 32 years. For the first part of my legal career I was on the legal staff of the Department of Taxation & Finance of the State of New York. I gave tax advice on all New York taxes, tried tax cases, and drafted tax legislation.  I am an accomplished legal writer; my written and spoken legal advice is free of “legalese.”

For five years I have been sole proprietor of the Law Office of Laurence E. Stevens, specializing in immigration law of the United States. Drawing on my tax background, I advise non-citizens on their New and federal income tax obligations. I also advise new businesses on the sales tax of New York.

I am a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association; the Legal Aid Society of Northeast New York, the Albany-Colonie Regional Chamber of Commerce where I lecture on sales tax to the entrepreneurial assistance program; the Guilderland Chamber of Commerce. I also speak on immigration law to various groups in the Capital District.

For twenty years I have been happily married, and am the proud father of a son and a daughter. In the winter I like cross-country skiing; in the summer, I like hiking and kayaking; in all seasons, I like watching funny movies.

Starting the Consultation:

When you contact me about legal advice we will arrange a date to meet, and set a fee for the meeting. The fee will include my follow-up research, should any be needed, and a second discussion when I tell you how I shape your case. If you choose to become my client then I will deduct the meeting fee from the final fee.

If you become my client, then I will give you a letter outlining what work I will do, my legal fees, government filing fees, and estimated time to completion.

Credentials in Law:

Principal, Law Office of Laurence E. Stevens, 2004 to present.

Attorney, State of New York, Department of Taxation & Finance, Office Of Counsel, State Office Campus, Albany, New York 12227.

J.D. State University of New York at Buffalo 1977

Member:

Bar of the State of New York.

American Immigration Lawyers Association

Private Attorney Involvement Program, Legal Aid Society of N.E.N.Y.

Credentials in Spanish:

B.A. Economics; Spanish, Gettysburg College, Gettysburg, Penn. (1973)

Diploma de Español como Lengua Extranjera (nivel intermedio), Ministry of Culture of Spain, and Instituto Cervantes (New York); February 2004.

Immigration columnist, El Registro (Spanish-language newspaper in Troy, N.Y.)

Language Immersion Institute, S.U.N.Y at New Paltz; weekend language program, May 2007 (advanced class);

Professional and Business Affiliations:

American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA)
AILA Member attorneys represent tens of thousands of U.S. families who have applied for permanent residence for their spouses, children, and other close relatives to lawfully enter and reside in the United States.

Legal Aid Society of Northeastern New York (LASNNY)

Albany Colonie Regional Chamber of Commerce

Guilderland Chamber of Commerce