He played association football at a youth level and signed a contract for Derby County F.C..[2] He also played Gaelic Football for Aghamore GAA Club in east Mayo.
Lawless studied Physical Education and History at UCC, qualifying as a secondary school teacher and also gained an MBA from Clayton State University, Georgia, USA. In July 2023, he was appointed a peace commissioner by the minister of justice.
At the 2024 general election, Lawless was elected to the Dáil. This would make his tenure in the Mayo County Council one of the shortest on record.[citation needed]