Diane Claxton

Diane Claxton is the founder of Claxton Law PLLC and the principal immigration attorney guiding the firm's practice across Florida, New York, Utah, and the United States. Her work bridges courtroom advocacy and community service, with two decades of cases that have helped thousands of immigrants secure status, defend against removal, and reunite their families.

About Diane Claxton

Diane Claxton is a dynamic attorney, licensed in Florida and New York. As the child of immigrants, Diane brings a personal understanding to her immigration law practice, infusing each case with empathy and a deep sense of purpose. Her legal expertise spans a broad spectrum, including antitrust litigation, securities, family law, and personal injury, a breadth of experience that informs her ability to handle the most complex immigration matters.

In addition to her legal practice, Diane has participated in advocacy work with several nonprofit organizations advocating for voter rights and immigrant rights. Her experience as a mediator for the State of Florida demonstrates her commitment to justice, particularly in sensitive cases involving asylum, deportation cancellation, unaccompanied minors, the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), adjustment of status, and the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.

Fluent in Spanish, French, Creole, and English, Diane's linguistic skills enable her to serve a wide array of clients with clarity and effectiveness. Clients often remark that working with Diane is the first time they have understood the immigration process in their own language, a difference that frequently changes the trajectory of a case.

Practice Areas

Diane leads Claxton Law Group's immigration practice and personally handles or supervises matters in each of the following areas:

• Asylum & Deportation Defense - affirmative asylum applications, defensive asylum in immigration court, and cancellation of removal.
• Family Petitions & Adjustment of Status - I-130 spousal and family petitions, I-485 adjustment of status, and consular processing.
• VAWA Self-Petitions - confidential self-petitions for survivors of domestic violence.
• U & T Visas - protections for victims of qualifying crimes and human trafficking.
• DACA & Unaccompanied Minors - initial DACA, renewals, and special immigrant juvenile cases.
• Naturalization & Citizenship - N-400 applications, interview preparation, and complex eligibility issues.
• I-601 / I-601A Waivers - provisional unlawful presence waivers and inadmissibility waivers.
• Employment-Based Visas - H-1B, L-1, O-1, and PERM labor certification.

Credentials & Admissions

Diane maintains active bar memberships in two of the most demanding jurisdictions in the country and is a long-standing member of the immigration bar's leading professional association.

• The Florida Bar - admitted to practice law in the State of Florida.
• New York State Bar - admitted to practice law in the State of New York.
• U.S. Federal Courts - admitted to practice before federal district courts in her jurisdictions.
• American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) - member, the national association of attorneys and law professors who practice and teach immigration law.
• State of Florida Mediator - certified mediator with experience in complex civil and family disputes.
• Founder, Claxton Law PLLC - established 2000, serving clients across Utah, Florida, and nationwide.

Education

Diane earned her Juris Doctor and was admitted to the Florida and New York Bars early in her career. She has continued her professional development through advanced courses in immigration law, asylum adjudication, and trial advocacy, regularly attending AILA national conferences and continuing legal education programs focused on emerging policy changes at USCIS, ICE, EOIR, and the U.S. Department of State.

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) - qualified for admission to The Florida Bar and New York State Bar.
• Continuing Legal Education - annual coursework in immigration practice, asylum law, and federal litigation.

Languages Spoken

Diane is fluent in four languages, allowing her to consult directly with clients without an interpreter, preserving nuance, confidentiality, and trust.

• English - native fluency.
• Spanish - full professional fluency, used daily with clients across Latin America and the Caribbean.
• French - full professional fluency, used with clients from francophone Africa, France, and Canada.
• Haitian Creole - conversational fluency, used with Haitian immigrant communities in Florida and beyond.

Community Engagement & Advocacy

Beyond her firm, Diane is an active advocate for immigrant communities and civic participation. She has worked with nonprofit organizations on voter-rights education and immigrant-rights campaigns, and she frequently lends her time to know-your-rights workshops, legal clinics, and pro bono cases involving unaccompanied minors, asylum seekers, and survivors of violence.

Diane's advocacy is rooted in her own family story. As the child of immigrants, she has seen firsthand how legal representation can be the difference between a future built in the United States and a forced return to danger. That perspective shapes the way her firm approaches every consultation: with patience, with cultural competence, and with the conviction that every client deserves to be heard.

Get in Touch with Diane

If you are facing an immigration matter, whether you are applying for asylum, fighting deportation, petitioning for a loved one, or pursuing citizenship, Diane and the Claxton Law team are ready to help. Consultations are available in English, Spanish, French, and Haitian Creole.