Attorney Lawrence J. Needle

Lawrence J. Needle, P.A. - Columbia, SC

Lawrence J. Needle, P.A., is an immigration law firm with national and international expertise. The firm has two offices to better serve the many clients throughout the state, nation, and in foreign countries. The headquarters for the firm is located in Columbia with an extension office in Charleston. Mr. Needle processes immigration matters at all U.S. immigration service centers as well as district and local immigration sub-offices.

Mr. Needle, a graduate of both the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service and Law Center, has more than twenty years of professional experience in immigration, nationality and employment law. Mr. Needle is an active member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association and member of the South Carolina State Bar Association. Mr. Needle has chaired the Immigration Law subsection of the Employment and Labor Law section of the South Carolina Bar Association, has served as Treasurer of the Carolinas Chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, is currently S.C. Ambassador for the American Immigration Council, and speaks and writes extensively on immigration and employment issues.

Current clients include universities, colleges, public schools, hospitals and professional staffing companies, corporations, investors and individuals. Mr. Needle also serves as special counsel on immigration law to Malone, Thompson, Summers and Ott, LLC.

Attorney Cynthia Aziz

Aziz Law Firm, P.A. - Columbia, SC

In 1990 Cynthia founded the law office of CA Aziz P.A. now recognized as the Aziz Law Firm. From its inception its focus has been U.S. immigration and nationality law. Cynthia is a North Carolina State Board Certified Specialist in immigration and nationality law. Her professional memberships are numerous and she has often served in leadership roles for these organizations.

Originally from New England, Ms. Aziz is of Lebanese descent. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Mount Holyoke in Massachusetts and her juris doctorate from New England School of Law in Boston. She was admitted to the Massachusetts bar and, following her move to the South, was admitted to the North Carolina bar.

Recognized for her knowledge and commitment to the field of immigration law, Cynthia is often invited to plan, present, and/or write for CLE programs both at the state and national level as well as other community and professional symposiums throughout the state. Cynthia provides pro bono work when called upon by the Mecklenburg County Program, the Refugee Office of Catholic Social Services, Immigrant and Refugee Children's Project of UNHCR and has served as a mentor to her professional colleagues.

In 2001, Cynthia was recognized for her generous spirit; she was presented with the Elizabeth Gurvais Gruen Award - a Mentor Award given by the Carolinas Chapter of the AILA. In 1999, the University of North Carolina, Charlotte's Chapter of Phi Delta recognized Cynthia as an honorary member of the Phi Beta Delta Honor Society of International Scholars for her significant contributions to the internationalization of the Charlotte community. In 1992, the mayor of Charlotte and Board of County Commissioners appointed Ms. Aziz to serve on the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Community Advisory Committee.

Cynthia is a member of or affiliated with the following organizations:

American Immigration Lawyers Asscociation - Past chair, Carolinas AILA Chapter
International House of Charlotte, North Carolina
National Immigration Project
North Carolina Justice Center - Past member of the Board of Directors
Past member of the Board of Directors of the Mecklenburg County Bar
Board of Specialization for North Carolina State Bar, member and Chair of Committee on Immigration and Nationality
North Carolina Women Attorneys Association
National Center for Refugee and Immigrant Children of UNHCR and AILA