John W. Morrison, a Baltimore attorney and real estate consultant, died Tuesday of complications from leukemia at Union Memorial Hospital. He was 56.

Private services have been held.

Mr. Morrison was president of Morrison Management Inc., a Baltimore County property management and real estate appraisal firm.

He was president of the Apartment House Owners Association of Maryland from 1969 to 1970, was director of the Greater Baltimore Board of Realtors from 1971 to 1980 and served on the Governor's Commission to study landlord-tenant laws from 1970 to 1976.

Mr. Morrison taught real estate law at the University of Baltimore for five years.

He was born in New York and resided in Baltimore most of his life. He was a 1952 graduate of Loyola High School. Mr. Morrison attended Johns Hopkins University and graduated from the University of Baltimore School of Law in 1963. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1954 to 1957.

Surviving are his wife of 31 years, the former Lucia Carozza; two daughters, Sally M. Brown of Richmond, Va., and Stephanie W. Morrison of Baltimore; three sisters, Nancy M. Holden, Elizabeth M. Fair and Patricia M. Davis, all of Baltimore; and two grandchildren.

The family suggests memorial contributions to the Leukemia Society of America, Maryland Chapter, 200 E. Joppa Road, Towson 21204.