My Blog

I’m Giving Up Teaching at Brooklyn Law School

September 8, 2026 by Matthew

I’ve been an adjunct professor at Brooklyn Law School since 2012. I created a course called “Immigration Workshop: Deportation Defense,” and I’ve really enjoyed teaching it.

One of the reasons I created the course was that I wanted to share my knowledge and experience and help make better immigration lawyers. I’m particularly proud that some of my former students are now supervisors at the Legal Aid Society and Catholic Charities.

Unfortunately, practicing immigration law has gotten too crazy under the Trump administration. For years, I was able to maintain my practice and teach. However, I can no longer do both, and I have to focus on my practice.

There have been so many changes in immigration law and policy under the Trump administration that it has become difficult to keep up. The Board of Immigration Appeals has been issuing precedent decisions on an almost daily basis. Keeping my course materials and syllabus current with all of the changes to deportation defense would take more time than I have.

So, after 14 years of teaching at Brooklyn Law School, I’ve decided to retire from teaching.

I’m going to miss teaching. But I hope that the lawyers who took my course will carry what they learned into their own practices and continue helping immigrants who need good lawyers.

My 15th Anniversary!

September 8, 2026 by Matthew

Today is the fifteenth anniversary of the opening of the Law Office of Matthew L. Guadagno.

It’s been an amazing 15 years. I’ve argued before the U.S. Supreme Court. I’ve been an adjunct professor at Brooklyn Law School. I’ve had some incredible cases in immigration court. I’ve helped a lot of people get their citizenship and green cards.

I updated the website in July, but I never got a chance to post about it. My office is now located at 299 Broadway, Suite 802, New York, NY 10007. Just like the last time I had to move, my office building was sold and repurposed, so I had to move. The move worked out well for me. I’m now literally across the street from 26 Federal Plaza, so my new location is a great place for an immigration attorney to have an office.

Consulations Are By Appointment Only!

January 24, 2024 by Matthew

Someone came to my office today without an appointment when I was not in my office.

It is foolish to go to a lawyer’s office without an appointment. You have no guarantee that the lawyer will be there or that the lawyer will be available if he is in the office. If I am doing work, I will not stop what I am doing to meet with a walk-in. I only meet with people who have appointments. If you come to my office without an appointment, I will not meet with you.

The “Contact Me” page of my website clearly states that consultations are by appointment only. I screen all of my consultations on the phone. I pick who I meet with. I am a solo practitioner with no staff. I have a heavy workload and my cases tend to be very complicated. I do not have the time to meet with everyone who wants to meet with me. With my workload, I have very limited time to meet with people. You cannot bypass my selection process by just showing up at my office without an appointment.

I consider it very inconsiderate for someone to think that they can show up at my office without an appointment. I have work to do. If I were to stop doing my work to meet with a walk-in, I would still have my work to do afterward and be stuck working late.

I also consider it disrespectful for someone to show up at my office without an appointment like it’s a Walmart. I have twenty-seven years of experience as an immigration lawyer. I am one of the few immigration attorneys who has argued before the U.S. Supreme Court. I am an adjunct professor at Brooklyn Law School. If you want me to be your lawyer, you have to show me the courtesy of calling to make an appointment to meet with me.

I am furious about the two men who came to my office today because not only didn’t they have an appointment, but they bothered my office neighbors when they discovered I wasn’t in my office. (That’s how I know they came to the office when I wasn’t there).

PLEASE DO NOT COME TO MY OFFICE WITHOUT AN APPOINTMENT!