what makes a good immigration lawyer

Qualities that a Good Immigration Lawyer Should Possess

• Proper credentials. While proper credentials do not necessarily make a lawyer good, they are an important first step.
• Strong references and testimonials. A talented immigration lawyer should have a long trail of satisfied customers and...
• Proven track record. Of course it is not only important what their previous...

Full Answer

Is being an immigration attorney a good career?

Immigration attorneys tend to earn a slightly lower salary than lawyers specializing in other subjects. For lawyers, the employment rate is projected to grow at a rate of about 8% according to the BLS. This is average for all U.S. occupations. Career prospects involving immigration law are excepted to continue increasing.

What to look for when choosing an immigration lawyer?

For example, if the lawyer appears in court for immigration appeal matters then they should be able to show you copies of positive decisions that they have obtained. Another thing to look for when choosing a lawyer is how professional they appear and act.

How do I become an immigration lawyer?

To become an immigration lawyer, you must first earn a bachelor’s degree from a college or university. At some point towards the end of the four-year program, you will take the law school admissions test (LSAT). The standardized exam assesses a person’s reading comprehension, logical, and verbal reasoning proficiency.

Who is the best immigration lawyer in California?

Elsie Hui Arias She is one of the best immigration lawyers that you must know from your end. The only thing that you must consider from your end is that she is one of the state bar California board’s prominent lawyers for legal specialization. You must know her past achievements to hire her as your immigration lawyer in America.

What skills do you need to be a immigration lawyer?

What are some of the most important skills for Immigration Lawyers to have? Good judgment, creative solution problem-solving abilities, excellent communication skills with customers, the ability to speak in public, compassion and good people skills.

How do you evaluate an immigration lawyer?

10 Tips What To Look For When Choosing An Immigration LawyerGet A Trusted Referral. ... Avoid Hiring A General Practitioner. ... Be Skeptical Of Unrealistic Promises. ... Inquire About Their Availability During Regular Office Hours. ... Cost. ... Experience. ... Written Contract. ... Question Their Work Ethics.More items...•

What are the most important qualities of an immigration officer?

Skills and qualitiesto be observant, with practical common sense and sensitivity.to be able to manage difficult situations.excellent interpersonal and verbal communication skills.to have an enquiring mind.problem-solving skills.to pay attention to detail and be able to work under pressure.planning skills.More items...

Is being an immigration lawyer stressful?

Practicing law is stressful, and immigration lawyers are commonly faced with circumstances that make their jobs immensely draining. In addition to the physical costs of keeping up with a heavy case load, the emotional toll can be significant.

Do immigration lawyers go to court?

An immigration lawyer usually works in an office environment. He or she may occasionally require to visit courts for legal proceedings or other relevant matters.

Does Uscis know everything about you?

The simple answer, of course, is that it is impossible to know whether USCIS knows if an applicant for a green card or for naturalization is lying to them. The safe assumption is that they DO know everything about you and that, if you lie in the interview, you will be caught.

What skills are needed in immigration?

The eight most common skills based on Immigration Officer resumes in 2022.Background Checks, 33.0%Conduct Interviews, 23.6%CIS, 11.0%Citizenship, 7.7%Law Enforcement, 6.8%Immigration Law, 5.1%Foreign Nationals, 2.2%Other Skills, 10.6%

Why do I want to work in immigration law?

Desire to protect citizens: Immigration officers help to ensure the safe and legal immigration of people coming into the U.S. You may want to work in this role because you have a desire to protect U.S. citizens by defending the country's immigration processes.

How do I convince my clients for immigration?

Best Immigration Consultant Sales Life CycleKnow Your Service & Understand Client Expectations. ... Identify Your Target Customers in Agency Sales Life Cycle. ... Qualify Your Prospective Clients. ... Prepare A Convincing Sales Pitch. ... Handle Client Objections Positively. ... Close The Deal. ... Follow-up and Get Referrals.

Why do you love being an immigration lawyer?

In my humble opinion, the vast majority of immigrants – both those “legal” and “illegal” – want the same things as everyone else – safety, warmth, food, a nice life. Helping them get there is a great reward for me.

Do immigration lawyers make a lot of money?

The salaries of Immigration Lawyers in the US range from $55,870 to $187,200 , with a median salary of $115,820 . The middle 60% of Immigration Lawyers makes between $115,820 and $120,480, with the top 80% making $187,200.

How long does it take to learn immigration law?

All told, an aspiring immigration lawyer needs a total of seven years of full-time study after high school to obtain a Juris Doctor degree. He will also need a few more months to pass the bar exam and meet local bar association requirements.

What will An Immigration Attorney Do for Me?

An immigration attorney should explain the process and your options in clear language you can understand. They need to know “the rules” inside and out and have access to experts such as doctors or professors who can provide affidavits (statements made under oath) if necessary.

How to Tell if the Immigration Attorney is Any Good?

A lawyer’s success rate, education, credentials, and experience all factor into what makes them good at their job. There is no reason to go with someone who isn’t qualified. It’s crucial to find out if the attorney has an actual track record or is just boasting about their skills.

What Type of Cases The Immigration Attorney Handles

Immigration lawyers handle cases regarding visas and citizenship and any other case that deals with people moving into the country on a temporary or permanent basis. They can assist those detained by ICE and those who may have been separated. Other cases the attorney may take on are where the client is fixing to get deported.

Finding Out About Credentials and Education

Experience is the most significant factor, but qualifications and education play a part. You can find out how experienced an attorney is by checking their track record. However, you will need to ask them directly to see if they went to school and where.

Looking for Professionalism

Professionalism is all about doing what’s suitable for the client, even in difficult times. This means working hard for your money and following through on promises, as well as being straightforward and honest.

Avoiding Unprofessional Attorneys

On the other side of things, an unprofessional attorney will show up late for meetings or mess up deadlines repeatedly. They may not return phone calls in a timely fashion (or at all) and tend to be dishonest with their clients or take things personally when it has nothing to do with them.

How to Find a Good Immigration Lawyer

The best way to find an immigration attorney is by word of mouth. If you know someone who has recently immigrated, ask them if they have any recommendations for you. This way, you can get the best information straight from the source. If that isn’t possible for you, your next step should be searching online.

What is a good reference for an immigration lawyer?

A talented immigration lawyer should have a long trail of satisfied customers and positive reviews to show you. Testimonials and positive references are very strong indicators of a good candidate to represent you as it can be much harder to find positive reviews than negative one. Most people have no problem complaining about bad services but will be slower to complement good ones. For this reason, a long list of good references is a very good sign of competence.

What to look for in a lawyer?

Another thing to look for when choosing a lawyer is how professional they appear and act. Being open about their fee schedule and offering you a straight-forward contract demonstrates that they are treating you fairly and not trying to wrangle as much as possible out of you. A good lawyer should not be overly aggressive or pushy and should have a professional looking website which provides information about their services in a clear and easily comprehensible manner .

What can an immigration lawyer do for you?

Following is a very general outline of what a good immigration lawyer can do for you: He can help you understand the nature of the benefit you are seeking. You might find, for example, that the benefit you are seeking comes with hidden liabilities. You might even change your mind and try a different option after your immigration attorney clarifies ...

Why do immigration lawyers charge hourly rates?

Hourly rates are most common when the attorney represents the client during immigration law court proceedings — removal proceedings, for example. The reason for this is that the total cost in terms of the attorney’s time is at its most unpredictable when clients have to deal with proceedings in court.

How much does an attorney charge for a visa?

The attorney may charge a flat fee of $2,000 to $10,000 for certain types of visa applications, such as family-based visa applications.

Does it matter where an attorney is licensed?

As long as the attorney holds a license in one of these jurisdictions, it doesn’t matter exactly where . If you live in California, for example, and your attorney is licensed to practice in Idaho, for example, the fact that he is not licensed to practice in California won’t matter.

Is immigration landscape easy?

N avigating the US immigration landscape has never been easy, with its maze-like complexity and its ever-changing policies and regulations. Since 2016, however, the landscape is starting to look more like a minefield than a maze.

Is caring a factor in law firm?

Caring is an essential intangible factor in determining the quality of a law firm . Remember that now is no time to skimp on cost, at least if the immigration benefit you seek is important to you. If you needed neurosurgery to remove a brain tumor, you wouldn’t choose a brain surgeon based solely on price.

Does it matter which state your immigration lawyer is licensed to practice in?

Since federal law governs immigration, it doesn’t matter which jurisdiction your immigration lawyer is licensed to practice in, as long as it is US state or possession, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia. As long as the attorney holds a license in one of these jurisdictions, it doesn’t matter exactly where.

What is an immigration lawyer?

Immigration Lawyer. Immigration is the act of entering a foreign country to take permanent residence. To become a citizen of another country however, certain guidelines set forth by immigration laws must be followed. Immigration lawyers help individuals from other countries take the steps needed to legally reside in the U.S.

What is the employment rate of lawyers?

For lawyers, the employment rate is projected to grow at a rate of about 8% according to the BLS. This is average for all U.S. occupations. Career prospects involving immigration law are excepted to continue increasing.

Is immigration a business?

Immigration is serious business and the outcome of the case can significantly impact individuals. The process is also extremely complex, as is the procedure of hiring an immigration lawyer. Even if you have a recommendation from a close source, it is still pertinent to ask the right questions at the initial consultation.

Is immigration law complicated?

Immigration laws are so complex that perhaps U.S. tax laws are the only body of laws more complicated. In addition, even a minor mistake on paperwork can lead to serious consequences, such as a delay in the case or deportation. Immigration lawyers guide individuals through every step of the immigration process.

Can a lawyer handle immigration?

For the same reasons, only an actual, practicing lawyer should be trusted to handle your immigration matters. Unfortunately, many non-lawyers; even some well-meaning ones, who don't recognize how complex this area of law really is; claim to be capable of assisting foreigners who need help with the immigration process.

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.

Who can represent immigrants in removal proceedings?

This is already the case in many other countries, and in the United States is institutionalized in immigration law practice, where certain non-lawyers accredited by the federal Board of Immigration Appeals are allowed to represent immigrants in removal proceedings or in administrative matters before the Department of Homeland Security.

Is practicing law a 9 to 5 job?

Clearly, practicing law is never a 9-to-5 job. Being a lawyer is a high-stress, plummeting-prestige profession—the work is demanding, the economics of the profession are increasingly challenging, and in the views of some, the psychic or status rewards of working as a lawyer rank below nail technician.

1. Elsie Hui Arias

She is one of the best immigration lawyers that you must know from your end. The only thing that you must consider from your end is that she is one of the state bar California board’s prominent lawyers for legal specialization.

2. Edward Beshara

Edward Beshara ranks the second-best immigration lawyers in America whom you can trust upon by closing your eyes. Since 1983 he is providing his corporate clients the assistance for the immigration cases in the best possible manner.

3. Robert Divine

Robert Divine ranks the third-best immigration lawyer in the USA. The best thing about him is he does not accept all the cases that come to him; instead, he selects the best one that qualifies according to the law.

4. Ignacio Donoso

Donoso is among the best immigration lawyers who can handle your immigration cases in the best possible manner. You can consider him as the best in the business. The reason for this is he has got the certification of the EB-5 case in your hand to practice immigration cases for nine long years.

5. Charles Foster

Foster is currently the chairman of Foster LLP, one of America’s biggest immigration law firms. He is also one of the honorary consuls General of the Kingdom of Thailand. Charles Foster is also one of the best immigration lawyers in America who can help you with the EB-5 process in the long run.

6. Robert Gaffney

Robert Gaffney is one of America’s best immigration lawyers whom you can trust for your immigration case. For 30 long years, he has been helping individuals and corporate clients get the citizenship of America to make their investments with their family, friends, and relatives.

7. Enrique Gonzalez

In this entire life and career, he is the best person to deal with the EB-5 process. He is also one of the best immigration lawyers who can help you win an immigration certificate in America. He is responsible for meeting the clients’ needs to get the immigration passes from the American government on time.