Professional Biography.

​John Matthew Orr was born and raised in Brandon, Mississippi. He graduated from Mississippi State University in May 2014 with a B.A. in English. He finished with honors, also completing minors in Spanish and history. While at MSU, Mr. Orr studied abroad at the Universidad de Alcalá in Alcalá de Henares, Spain. His time in Spain placed Mr. Orr on the path to Spanish fluency and fostered his interest in immigration law.  

 

In Spain, Mr. Orr briefly felt the unease of being a newcomer in a foreign country. The warmth and respect with which he was treated eliminated such discomfort and profoundly, positively affected his worldview. Mr. Orr has a deep admiration for those who leave everything behind to come to the United States, seeking a brighter future for themselves and their families–just as we would do for our own families if the roles were reversed.

 

In 2017, Mr. Orr graduated cum laude from the University of Mississippi School of Law. He spent the first several years of his career in private civil practice, starting with Farese, Farese & Farese, P.A., in Oxford. Mr. Orr gained critical experience during his private-practice years, both within and outside the courtroom, gaining confidence in a wide range of civil matters. He feels fortunate to have had the opportunity to do client-facing, hands-on legal work from the very beginning–a luxury that many young lawyers are not afforded.  

 

Mr. Orr’s diverse civil-practice background prepared him to confidently navigate the complex and ever-shifting nature of immigration law. His first foray into the field was in private practice at a large, well-known Memphis firm. He then worked in the non-profit sector, most recently serving as the Managing Attorney of the legal program of a large Tennessee 501(c)(3) organization.  In August 2025, Mr. Orr fulfilled a longtime goal by opening his own law office: The Orr Law Firm, PLLC, in Olive Branch, Mississippi. Mr. Orr is proud to work closely and directly with his clients, whether immigrant or American-born. A Spanish speaker, Mr. Orr understands the power of communicating with clients in their native language to build mutual trust and confidence. He understands that the strength of a legal case rests critically upon the strength of the attorney-client relationship. The Orr Firm is honored to guide its clients towards their own goals. Mr. Orr is licensed to practice law in the State of Mississippi; his Tennessee licensure will be finalized shortly. He is admitted to practice in federal court before the Northern and Southern Districts of Mississippi.