how to find a good immigration lawyer

by Maritza Zulauf 9 min read

  • Ask Friends or Other Contacts for an Immigration Lawyer Referral. The best place to start your search for a good immigration lawyer is to ask for a referral from someone ...
  • Contact a Lawyer Bar Association. Many lawyers join bar associations as a way to network with other lawyers, gain access to continuing education and practice resources, and obtain new clients.
  • Research Immigration Lawyers Online. If you can't find an immigration lawyer through your referral network or bar association efforts referrals, there always is the internet.
  • Beware of Non-Lawyers Offering Legal Services. When searching for an immigration lawyer, you might come across a "consultant," notary, or notario who offers to help with U.S. immigration.
  • Contact Prospective Immigration Attorneys. Once you have your search narrowed to one or a few immigration lawyers, the next step is to make contact.
  • Interview Prospective Immigration Lawyers. Once you have established contact with an attorney who seems to be a likely prospect, arrange a short call to explain the type of case you ...
  • You Might Eventually Need to Find Another Lawyer. Even after you have done your research and started working with a lawyer, you could later find that the lawyer's performance is ...

Full Answer

How to find an excellent immigration lawyer?

Ask Friends or Other Contacts for an Immigration Lawyer Referral. The best place to start your search for a good immigration lawyer is to ask for a referral from someone you know and trust. If you currently have a lawyer for other matters, that lawyer likely has a network of fellow lawyers, and can help you find one for your immigration case.

What are the requirements to become an immigration lawyer?

You can probably find out a lot about your lawyer online: whether he or she is listed as a member of a state bar association (a requirement) and of the American Immigration Lawyers' Association or AILA (a professional organization that most of the best attorneys join); whether he or she gets good reviews on websites like Martindale; whether the lawyer has written professional articles …

What education is needed to become an immigration lawyer?

Mar 16, 2021 · Look for Experience. Immigration law is one of the more complicated areas of law. So, it’s even more important to find someone whose experienced. Be cautious of attorneys that practice in law in several areas (like personal injury, business, etc.) Look for a licensed attorney that focuses on immigration law.

Should I become an immigration lawyer?

To simplify your search, one of the best ways you can find a lawyer is through your friends and family. If they’ve had experience with any immigration lawyers, you can look to them for advice on how to find one yourself or how they felt about their overall outcomes.

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How much does it cost to hire an immigration lawyer?

Average Immigration Lawyer FeesItemsAverage Costs30 Minute Consultation$75 – $300 USDLawyer's Hourly Rate$150 – $350 USDForm Filing Assistance$250 – $2000 USDPermanent Residency Assistance$1000 – $7500 USD1 more row

How can I find a good immigration lawyer in USA?

Here are some guidelines to help you find a good immigration lawyer.Ask Friends or Other Contacts for an Immigration Lawyer Referral. ... Contact a Lawyer Bar Association. ... Research Immigration Lawyers Online. ... Beware of Non-Lawyers Offering Legal Services. ... Contact Prospective Immigration Attorneys.

How do I find a good immigration lawyer UK?

Immigration BlogDo your research. The Home Office website is a good place to start to ensure that you find a legitimate firm. ... Ask for a referral. ... Talk to a few firms. ... Check the fee structure. ... Be wary of guarantees. ... Have a consultation. ... Organise your documents. ... Don't Stress.Apr 6, 2017

What is the average salary of an immigration lawyer?

The national average salary for a Immigration Attorney is ₹44,990 in India.

Do I need an immigration lawyer for spouse visa?

While, as a matter of law, visa applicants are at liberty to file an Immigrant Visa (Spouse) application in person, representation is recommended for best prospects of success, and to ensure the process is as smooth and efficient as possible.Mar 29, 2021

Can immigration lawyer speed up process UK?

An immigration lawyer cannot magically speed up your applications process once it has been submitted, however by hiring an immigration lawyer you can greatly decrease your chances of unnecessary delays caused by mistakes in your application.

How much does an immigration lawyer cost UK?

On average, this type of work takes between 5-15 hours to complete. This means that on average costs are between GBP 1800.00 and GBP 5,400.00 (including VAT). All figures include VAT unless specifically stated otherwise.

How can I get free immigration advice UK?

Many local Law Centres provide free immigration advice, although services vary from centre to centre.Telephone (general enquiries no advice): 020 3637 1330.Email: info@lawcentres.org.uk or query form online.Web: www.lawcentres.org.uk (Law Centre locator service)More items...

Can an attorney guarantee success?

Not even the best attorneys can guarantee success. Ultimately, the outcome of your case is up to an immigration judge, the Department of Homeland Defense and/or USCIS. Any attorney claiming he or she has a 100% success rate and guaranteeing you a particular outcome may need to be more closely evaluated.

Is it ethical to hire a low value immigration attorney?

A few "high-volume, low value" immigration attorneys prowl the hallways of immigration offices attempting to solicit business. This is not considered ethical behavior by the legal bar. Besides, any good immigration attorney is probably going to be too busy practicing immigration law and working for their clients to spend their time rounding up new clients this way.

How to find an immigration lawyer?

Immigration law is one of the more complicated areas of law. So, it’s even more important to find someone whose experienced. Be cautious of attorneys that practice in law in several areas (like personal injury, business, etc.) Look for a licensed attorney that focuses on immigration law .

How to file for USCIS?

It’s wise to consult with an immigration lawyer before filing any USCIS forms if you: 1 Entered the U.S. without inspection 2 Failed the leave the U.S. before a visa expired 3 Were refused entry at a port of entry 4 Were apprehended by Customs and Border Protection 5 Signed a stipulated removal order 6 Were ever in exclusion, deportation, or removal proceedings 7 Have ever been charged with a misdemeanor or felony criminal offense

Can a lawyer give legal advice?

Only attorneys may provide legal advice. If you have one of the problems listed above, it’s very difficult for consultants not to provide unauthorized legal advice. This could get you in trouble. Lawyers are well paid for being creative and resourceful, but not to the extent that it breaks the law.

How to Find a Good Immigration Attorney

Immigration is one of the most complex areas of law in the United States, especially now. Political influences and rapidly-changing regulations are making it difficult, if not impossible, for the average person to interpret and understand the law, much less fight for their rights in court.

Verifying Experience and Education

Verifying experience and education for an immigration lawyer is often the easiest step; all you have to do is ask the lawyer to disclose their information. For education, you can contact the university directly to confirm that they did, in fact, attend school and graduate with a degree.

Call the California State Bar

There is an easier way to verify an immigration lawyer’s experience, education, and license, all at the same time. The CSBA maintains a complete listing of lawyers licensed to practice law within the state; this includes all local immigration lawyers.

What to Avoid

No two lawyers are exactly the same – this fact is especially true within the realm of immigration law. When you may only have a few short days or weeks to defend yourself from deportation, or when you are fighting a denial, having the lawyer who will fight hardest for you without taking advantage of you is a must.

The Benefits of Using Lawyer Referral Services

With so many potential pitfalls, finding a good immigration lawyer can start to feel a bit like finding a needle in a haystack. You want to be sure you have the right person, but how can you guarantee they really are what they say they are? Instead of trusting instinct alone, consider using a lawyer referral service instead.

How Lawyer Referral Services Work

Most lawyer referral services are available online and by telephone; some may be available in-person, too. To use them, you simply enter your information into a form or speak with a representative from the service.

Expert Q&A

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Tips

You may be able to narrow down your search for immigration lawyers right away, by contacting your local Bar Association and asking for a recommendation for an immigration attorney.

Warnings

The contents of this article contain legal information, but NOT legal advice.

About This Article

This article was co-authored by Clinton M. Sandvick, JD, PhD. Clinton M. Sandvick worked as a civil litigator in California for over 7 years. He received his JD from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1998 and his PhD in American History from the University of Oregon in 2013. This article has been viewed 12,582 times.

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The Experience

  • You may have heard several times that experience is the top-most factor to consider when looking for an attorney who can make your legal needs seamless, and yet you do not understand why it should be so. Some people think that as long as an attorney has proof that they have the right qualifications, they should do an incredible job. Even though that is correct, it is crucial to under…
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Excellent Communication Skills

  • In addition to the experience, the other critical factor that you must consider is communication skills. A reasonable attorney should have remarkable communication skills. Besides, communication skills are very critical for articulating your points in a court of law. In other words, an attorney who does not have excellent communication skills will have a hard time representin…
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Legal Fees

  • When you have pressing matters, the legal fees may not be a priority when looking for an immigration lawyer. However, it is vital to consider the amount you will have to pay for the legal services as that can sometimes tell you more about the ability of the attorney to provide you with quality services. Moreover, it is not prudent to spend a lot of money on legal services when lawy…
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The Track Record

  • Lastly, you need to ensure that you are seeking the services of an immigration lawyerwith a remarkable track record. The track record tells you the lawyer has served the previous clients well and therefore may not have difficulties serving your interest in the best way possible. Further, avoid lawyers who do not want you to know about their past because that is a sign of red flags.
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