Stacy Cozart Martin is a Managing Member and Partner at Martin Jolic and Associates, LLC. Since 2000, Stacy Cozart Martin has focused her extensive legal career on business and family-based immigration. She has successfully won thousands of specialty visas and permanent residency for employees, while balancing the needs of employers. Ms. Cozart Martin is one of the foremost attorneys in the field of employment-based permanent residency, assisting with visas based upon Labor Certification Applications (PERM), extraordinary ability, designation as outstanding professors and researchers, and national interest waivers. Ms. Cozart Martin has worked on J-1 waivers for interested government agencies such as the National Institutes of Health and Conrad State 30 programs, and she has extensive experience in assisting clients seeking J-1 waivers of the home residency requirement based upon hardship. Ms. Cozart Martin also processes non-immigrant visa petitions for H-2B seasonal workers. Finally, Ms. Cozart Martin works with employers to ensure I-9 compliance and appropriately respond to government audits.
Ms. Cozart Martin does not forget that immigration is also built upon families. For almost two decades, she has processed family based petitions based on marriage, familial relationship and VAWA. She is also familiar with the intricacies of benefits for derivative family members, and ready to litigate issues that may arise with the Child Status Protection Act, and the Child Citizenship Act of 2001. Ms. Cozart Martin’s skills have been recognized locally and nationally. She was named the Best Lawyers® 2020 Immigration Law “Lawyer of the Year” in Cleveland. Also, Ohio Super Lawyers magazine has named Ms. Cozart Martin a “Rising Star” annually from 2006 to 2013 and she has a “Superb 10.0” rating from Avvo. As a testament to her stature in the field, Ms. Cozart Martin has been selected by her peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019 in the field of Immigration Law. Ms. Cozart Martin is actively involved in many academic and immigration related organizations. She is an Adjunct Professor at Case Western Reserve University, School of Law. She served on the national Department of Labor and Pro Bono Committees with the American Immigration Lawyers Association (“AILA”). From 2015-2017, Ms. Cozart Martin was Chair of the Ohio Chapter of AILA. She recognizes that immigration awareness is vital to our Congressional legislators, and regularly attends the annual National Day of Action in Washington DC where she meets with members of Congress and discusses complex immigration matters. Ms. Cozart Martin serves as an Ohio Supreme Court Mentor to guide newly licensed attorneys. She acknowledges that vulnerable voices need representation and protections, and in recognition of her awareness, she was awarded a Certificate of Achievement as a Pro-Bono Guardian from AILA and named a Pro Bono Hero by AILA. Ms. Cozart Martin is frequently asked to share her extensive knowledge on employment and family-based immigration at local and national events around the US. She has presented on employment-based immigration topics for the AILA Annual Conferences and the Ohio Chapter AILA Conference. Universities and Healthcare facilities around the country have invited her to provide updates and trainings. Ms. Cozart Martin has been interviewed by local newspapers, BBC news, and television media to discuss developments in immigration law. She has been called upon by Fortune 500 companies to discuss I-9 and training issues for Human Resources and Managers.
Stacy Cozart may be contacted at: stacy@mjbimmigration.
EDUCATION
- Juris Doctor Degree, Cleveland Marshall College of Law, Cleveland State University
- Bachelor of Arts Degree in English, minor in Sociology, John Carroll University
ADMISSIONS
- Ohio State Bar
PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES
- Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association, Leadership Academy, Class 2023-2024
- Adjunct Professor, Case Western Reserve University, Fall/Spring, 2019-Present
- American Immigration Lawyers Association, DOL Committee, 2018-2022
- American Immigration Lawyers Association, Business Immigration Task Force, 2017
- American Immigration Lawyers, 2018 Annual Conference Committee, Business Track,
- Ohio Chapter, American Immigration Lawyers Association, President, 2015-2017
- National Day of Action, Participant, Washington DC, 2015-2017
- Ohio Chapter, American Immigration Lawyers Association, President, October 2014-June 2015
- American Immigration Lawyers Association, Chair, Pro Bono Committee, 2014, 2015
- Spanish American Committee, Treasurer, 2014
- Ohio Chapter, American Immigration Lawyers Association, Vice President, 2013-2014
- American Immigration Lawyers Association, Member, Healthcare Committee, 2011
- American Immigration Lawyers Association, Vice Chair, Pro Bono Committee, 2011, 2017, 2018
- American Immigration Lawyers Association, Member, Pro Bono Committee, 2010-present
- Ohio Chapter, American Immigration Lawyers Association, Treasurer, 2009-2012
- Ohio Supreme Court Mentor, 2009-present
- Cleveland Legal Aid Society, Pro Bono Committee, Member, 2009-2019
- Ohio Chapter, American Immigration Lawyers Association, Coordinator, Citizenship Day, 2008-present
- Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association, Immigration Law Section, Treasurer, 2008, 2009
- Ohio Chapter, American Immigration Lawyers Association, Secretary, 2008
- Ohio Chapter, American Immigration Lawyers Association, Pro Bono Liaison, 2006-2014
- American Immigration Lawyers Association, Super Mentors, 2006
- C. Lyonel Jones Pro-Bono Immigration Committee, Cleveland Chapter of the Legal Aid Society, Co-Founder, 2006-present
- Immigration Pro-Bono Project, Cleveland Chapter of Legal Aid, Cleveland Catholic Charities and Cuyahoga County Bar Association, Founder, 2005-2010
- Ohio Chapter, American Immigration Lawyers Association, Community Outreach Committee, 2005
- Ohio Chapter, American Immigration Lawyers Association, Ethics Committee, 2004, 2005
- Cuyahoga County Bar Association, Immigration Law Section, Chair, 2002-2007
- Cuyahoga County Bar Association, Leadership Academy, 2001
- Cleveland Marshall College of Law, Street Law, 1999-2000
AWARDS
- Named the Best Lawyers® 2020 and 2023 Immigration Law “Lawyer of the Year” in Cleveland.
- Rising Star, Ohio Super Lawyers Magazine, 2006 to 2013
- Volunteer Spotlight, Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Journal, February, 2009
- Certificate of Achievement as a Pro-Bono Guardian, American Immigration Lawyers Association, 2007-2008
- Pro Bono Hero, American Immigration Lawyers Association, 2014
- Super Lawyer, Ohio Super Lawyers Magazine, 2015 and 2016
- Selected by her peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America 2016-2023 in the field of Immigration Law
SEMINARS
Speaking Engagements:
- “Updates in Immigration Law”- Purdue University, 2001
- “New Lawyers Training”-Ohio State Bar Association, 2001
- “Updates on Professionalism”- Ohio State Bar Association, 2002
- “Updates in Immigration Law”- Kansas State University, 2003
- “2003 New Lawyers Training: Professionalism” – Cuyahoga County Bar Association
- “Updates on H-1B, NIW and EB-11 Petitions”- Carnegie Mellon University, 2003
- “R-1 and its requirements”- Channel 19 News, Cleveland, 2004
- “2004 New Lawyers Training: Immigration Law”- Cleveland Bar Association and Cuyahoga Bar Association
- “4th Annual Immigration Law Conference, 2006”-AILA and Columbus Bar Association
- “2007 New Lawyers Training: Pro-Bono”-Cleveland Bar Association and Cuyahoga County Bar Association
- “2008 New Lawyers Training: Pro-Bono”-Cleveland Bar Association and Cuyahoga County Bar Association
- “Doctors, Nurses and Allied Healthcare Workers”-Ohio AILA Annual Conference, 2006
- “7th Annual Immigration Law Conference, 2009”-Columbus Bar Association and Ohio AILA
- “EB-11, EB-12, NIW’s: So You Think You Are All That and What To Do When the USCIS Says You are Not…”- Ohio AILA Annual Conference, 2009
- “Citizenship Day Volunteer Training & Orientation, 2010”-AILA National and ya es hora
- “Mentor Training, 2010”-Supreme Court of Ohio
- “Fundamentals of Immigration Law, The Road to Naturalization and Citizenship”-AILA National, Washington DC, 2012
- “Go to the Head of the Class: Extraordinary Ways to Avoid PERM and Visa Backlogs”- Mid South AILA Conference, Cincinnati, Ohio 2013
- “DOMA and Its Immigration Consequences”- The LGBT Community Center of Greater Cleveland, 2013
- “DOMA and It’s Immigration Consequences”- CMBA LGBT & Allies Committee, Equality Ohio, Spanish American Committee, Legal Aid Society of Cleveland and Nueva Luz Urban Resource Center, 2014
- “Keepin’ It Real: 10 Practical Tips for a Successful Law Practice”-Case Western Reserve University, 2014
- “Empowering the Most Vulnerable: The Ethics if Representing Noncitizens Who Lack Capacity”- AILA National Conference, Washington DC, 2015
- “What Employers Need to Know About I-9s”- Cleveland, 2015
- “Putting Together Your First PERM”-AILA National Conference, San Francisco, California, 2018
- “Extraordinary Ability and PERM”-Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio 2018
- Guest Speaker, “Business Immigration”- Case Western Reserve University, 2015-2019
- “Everything you Ever Wanted to Know About Immigration Law” – Case Western Reserve University, Weatherhead School of Management, Cleveland, Ohio, 2015-present
- “Putting Together Your First PERM”-Ohio AILA Annual Conference, 2019
- “Dealing with the NVC and DOS After Petition Approval” -Federal Bar Association, 2022
- “Problem Solving for Mistakes Created by the Government, Your Client and Others”-Ohio AILA Annual Conference, 2022
- “Immigration Law for Professionals” – CBTA Professional Development Conference, 2023
- “TN Visas for Professionals” – Chicago AILA New Member Division, 2023
- “Bona Fide Marriages, Sham Marriages and Everything in Between”-Federal Bar Association, 2024
Coordinated:
- “The 2001 Immigration and Naturalization Law Seminar”- Federal Bar Association
- “Immigration and Naturalization Law Update, 2002”- Cuyahoga County Bar Association
- “Immigration and Naturalization Law Update, 2003”- Federal Bar Association, Cuyahoga County Bar Association and Hispanic Bar Association
- “Ethics Seminar, 2004”-Ohio Chapter, American Immigration Lawyers Association
- “Immigration and Naturalization Law Update, 2005”- Cuyahoga County Bar Association and American Immigration Lawyers Association
- “Immigration and Naturalization Law Update, 2006” -Cuyahoga County Bar Association
- “Immigration Update, 2007”-Cuyahoga and Cleveland Bar Associations
- “Model Hearing Program, Pro-Bono, 2007”- EOIR, Cleveland
- “Model Hearing Program, Pro-Bono, 2009”- EOIR, Cleveland
- “Model Hearing Program, Pro-Bono, 2010”- EOIR, Cleveland
- “Model Hearing Program, Pro-Bono, 2012”- EOIR, Cleveland
- “Model Hearing Program, Pro-Bono, 2014”- EOIR, Cleveland
- “Model Hearing Program, Pro-Bono, 2016”- EOIR, Cleveland
- “Juveniles in Immigration Proceedings, 2013”-Legal Aid Society of Cleveland
- “Annual Immigration Conference” American Immigration Lawyers Association, Ohio Chapter, 2014-2022
ARTICLES
- “Prince Harry’s drug use and his US visa: The duke’s other court case explained”, BBC News, June 6, 2023
