How to Pick an Immigration Attorney
There's a good amount of documentation needed for the immigration process, and it's easy to feel overwhelmed the first time you first sit down and prepare your immigration forms. You might wonder about hiring an immigration attorney too to take care of the process. If your case is straightforward though, you can probably manage things on your own. Still, there are several reasons you should hire an immigration lawyer.
If you run into issues with through the process, you might require legal assistance to remedy the problem. If your immigration situation is complex, or if you just don't have the time or confidence to take care of the forms yourself, an immigration lawyer can certainly do it for you.
'But certainly, as when looking to hire any other service professional, you should do your due diligence before committing to someone. A competent immigration lawyer can be worth their weight in gold, but an incompetent one can easily compound your problems. When looking around for prospects, here are 5 tips to keep in mind;As you search around for prospects, bear the following in mind:Remember the following pointers as you look for prospects:
Seek personal recommendations. Ask your relatives, friends or workers if they know of any immigration attorneys. Even if they haven't hired one before, they might be able to link you up with somebody who has. People are often quick to recommend someone and quicker to discourage you from a lawyer you should avoid - surely a great help as you get started with your search.
Check with AILA. You can search for a lawyer on the website of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA). If you find an attorney using this method, so you can be rationally sure that this person can actually help your case. Of course, you can always start your research from scratch by first looking in your area. Once you get a few lawyer names, look them up to know if they are AILA members. Membership does not guarantee that a lawyer is good, but it does indicate a strong level of professional commitment.
Talk to your prospects. Talk to potential immigration attorneys Tampa to know matches your needs the most. Be sure that they are experienced with the specific type of case you have. Immigration law is a wide field, so you'll need a lawyer who is a specialist.Immigration law is a very wide field, meaning your lawyer should have specialist expertise. Ask the lawyer to give you you references and talk to these people so you get a a better understanding of the attorney's style.
Compare your prospects' fee structures. Some attorneys bill hourly, others a flat fee. In any case, see if there will be additional costs like postage, long distance charges, etc.
Know the attorney's background. Finally, once you think you've found the immigration lawyer you're looking for, check their background before signing any contract. Get in touch with your local state bar and check if the attorney is licensed and in good standing, or if they have been at the center of a disciplinary case in the past.
