How to Pick a Good Immigration Lawyer

When immigrating to the United States, how do you choose the best immigration attorney? A lot of that depends on what you are hiring your immigration attorney for. The requirements for employment, student, and asylum visas are all radically different. There are several steps you can take to make sure you get the best immigration lawyer.

Why Choosing a Qualified Lawyer is Important

Immigrating to the United States is one of the most important events in your life. You want to make sure you get the highest quality assistance with the process. There are more than 7,500 people who hold the immigration attorney position in the United States at present. With this large number of immigration lawyers, the sad truth is that not all of them are reputable. Some lawyers are just out to make a buck, and do not care whether they successfully sort out your immigration problem or not.

First, prepare yourself; hiring an immigration lawyer is going to cost quite a bit of money. You want to make sure you get a return on this substantial investment. Do some research to make that you get the best immigration lawyer you can afford!

Considerations when Choosing an Immigration Lawyer

There are several things that you can look for when choosing the best immigration attorney. Each of these suggestions may or may not apply to your particular situation. Read through the suggestions, and use them as a guide to choosing your immigration lawyer.

American Immigration Lawyers Association

Look for a lawyer who is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA.) The AILA gives lawyers up-to-date information about immigration law and membership in the group may indicate that the attorney in question handles a high number of immigration cases.

Fees

How will you immigration attorney fees be charged? Do they work on a flat fee (one set charge) basis or do they charge an hourly rate? Most immigration lawyers charge a flat fee with hourly fees added on for certain services. Always compare the fees offered by at least three attorneys. You don't want to go for the lowest price lawyer you can find, but you do want to get a range by which to judge the fees assessed by the attorney with whom you hope to work.

Disciplinary Actions

By contacting the Board of Professional Responsibility of your state bar, you can find out if an attorney has ever been placed under disciplinary action. If they have, do not use that attorney. It is also not unheard of for an imposter to claim they are a licensed attorney. By contacting your local bar, you can verify the authenticity of your attorney's license.

Community Reputation

Ask around to find out if your lawyer has a good reputation in your community. Have other immigrants from your country used this lawyer and if so, what kind of experience did they have? If your lawyer has a good "word of mouth" reputation, then chances are you have found one of the local top immigration law firms.

References

Ask your attorney for a list of references of other immigration clients and take the time to speak with one or two of the individuals. Try to get a feel for your attorney's personality and for the quality of their legal performance.

Focus of Lawyer's Practice

Find out if your lawyer's practice is exclusive to immigration. The more focused the law practice, the better service you will receive. Immigration law is one of the most fluid types of law, and is constantly changing. If your lawyer is not immigration exclusive, chances are he is not up-to-date on current immigration law.

Years Practiced

Length of practice can be both a positive and a negative for an immigration attorney. New lawyers may not have the confidence of experienced attorneys but you also want an attorney energetic enough to be on top of current changes in immigration law, not someone who has grown complacent doing the same thing for years. Find out how many years your lawyer has been practicing in this field, but don't base your decision exclusively on that number. Just add it in as another factor of your evaluation process.

If you are looking to move to the US from the United Kingdom then you will need to appoint a UK lawyer initially to help you prepare the relevant forms. Many of the forms are detailed and it is essential that they are completed correctly as an incorrectly completed form can damage your chances of being accepted.


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