Are you experiencing a problem with your immigration status? Do you want to learn more about your legal rights and requirements with immigration law? If so, then you need to learn all that you can about finding an immigration attorney.
What should I look for in an immigration attorney near me? What can they help with? How do I know when I’ve found the right fit for my situation?
See below for an in-depth guide on how to choose the right immigration attorney, what they do, and why they are so important to your situation. Allow this insight to be a guiding light.
1. Look for a Positive Reputation
Perhaps you’ve just moved somewhere and aren’t familiar with the lawyers in your area. Maybe this is your first time reaching a point with your immigration status where you need legal representation.
Whatever the case might be, it’s important to choose the right lawyer for your situation. Someone who has a proven track record of success; someone that gets results as quickly as one can in the legal system.
Thankfully, there is a way to find an immigration attorney’s reputation, even if you’ve never met them or anyone that’s worked with them: online reviews. These can be found on search engines (like Google) or on the lawyer’s own website.
- Do the clients seem happy with the service the immigration attorney has provided them?
- What circumstances caused the clients to hire a lawyer in the first place?
- Did the lawyer help them reach a favorable outcome?
- Are there any mentions of lying or tardiness?
- Would the clients recommend this lawyer to others?
It’s important to find someone with experience in immigration defense. Immigration law is full of complex statutes and regulations, so having a specialized lawyer present is going to make a world of difference.
2. Ask Them Qualified Questions
Client feedback is insightful because it gives you a peek behind the curtain. You can get a better understanding of whether or not the lawyer is highly-regarded amongst their peers.
That said, you should also take the time to speak with them yourself before you make any major decisions. Call their number and take the time to ask them as many questions as you can. If you aren’t sure what questions to ask, here are some to get you started:
- How long have you been practicing immigration law?
- What methods of communication do you prefer?
- Are you bilingual? If not, is there anyone else at your law firm that is?
- Are you a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association?
- What is your win rate? (every lawyer knows their win rate, don’t let them tell you otherwise)
- Have you ever handled a client with a similar case to mine? What was the result?
- How long do you think the timeline will be?
When the attorney talks with you, are they taking their time to answer your questions or trying to rush you off of the phone? Do their answers seem too good to be true? Use these to get a feel of whether you deem them trustworthy or not.
3. Consider Payment Method
This shouldn’t be ground-breaking to anyone reading it. If you’re going to find the right immigration lawyer for your case, then payment is going to play a big factor.
But how much should you pay the lawyer you hire? What’s an acceptable payment method? How should they charge you? Let them be the ones to explain it.
There are two main ways that a lawyer charges for their services: hourly or with a contingent fee.
If they charge hourly, then they get paid for every hour they work on your case. The price ranges anywhere from $100 to $500 per hour depending on your situation. Make sure there is a way to regulate how many hours they actually spend on your case.
If they’re contingently paid, then you only pay the lawyer if you win the case. If they win, then they get a sizeable amount of the settlement you receive.
4. Consider the Chemistry Factor
You and your lawyer will be talking a good amount while your case plays out. For that reason, it’s important that you find someone you have a good connection with.
You can gauge this during the initial meeting. Do you respect the way they go about their business? Do they put things in terms that you can understand?
If you hire a lawyer you aren’t fond of, the entire case will be hell. Believe it or not, this will lead to a lack of communication, which can doom your case.
5. Look for Transparency
As we mentioned earlier, if the things that an immigration attorney tells you sound too good to be true, then it probably is.
It’s important to look for transparency. You want someone that will tell you all the possible ways your case could play out, not just “guaranteeing” that you’ll win your case.
Reputable attorneys know and respect the legal system. There are too many external factors outside their control for them to “promise” you much of anything. Steer clear of lawyers that promise you the world.
Immigration Attorney Near Me: Find the Best Fit for You
Now that you have seen an in-depth guide on how to choose the right immigration attorney near me, be sure to use this information to your advantage.
Take the time to browse our website for more articles on choosing an immigration attorney, as well as many other topics that you will find interesting.
