Lawter received his Juris Doctorate from the University of Oklahoma School of Law in May 1983. After law school, Lawter served as General Counsel of United Bank and Trust Company of Norman. In 1991, Lawter formed Joe B. Lawter, P.C. and focused his practice on representing and protecting consumers in bankruptcy. Since that time, he has successfully represented hundreds of debtors in bankruptcy.
Lawter is licensed to practice in the United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma, the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, Oklahoma State Courts and the Supreme Court of the State of Oklahoma. He is a member of the National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys and the Oklahoma Bar Association. He has spoken and taught other attorneys in continuing education seminars on various bankruptcy issues.
