Qualities To Look for in an Immigration Lawyer

Looking for a lawyer can be a daunting task. It feels like your entire future is being put in the hands of a stranger. This can feel particularly true when it comes to immigration lawyers. Someone might want an immigration lawyer to help them with any part of the immigration process, including applying for visas or citizenship, marrying someone of a different nationality, and reapplying for a visa or citizenship after being previously rejected.

The following will explore some of the qualities you need to look for when you're selecting an immigration lawyer. Of course, every immigration case is slightly different, which means that each immigration lawyer search will be slightly different. Make sure that when you're searching, you're choosing from among attorneys who specialize in the exact type of immigration law you are dealing with.

Before we begin, we want to emphasize the importance of making proper use of free consultations. Many attorneys offer free consultations, and for a good reason. You and the lawyer in question can use this time to determine whether or not working together would be ideal. This meeting can give you the critical information you need to make the right choice when it comes to your immigration lawyer.

The price can be one of the more brutal aspects of hiring an immigration lawyer. It doesn't have to be, and attorneys exist that work for free or a fraction of the cost to help out those who cannot afford traditional legal services. If you need a discount, look around for it—it exists. We bring this point up here because you're hopefully looking to set yourself up for a good life in the country of your choice when it comes to immigration. Massive amounts of debt are not going to help with that. Be honest with yourself about what you can afford, and make sure you bring up your financial limits during the free consultations we spoke about above.

One of the biggest things a good immigration lawyer can do to help you on your immigration journey is to explain the law and legal proceedings to you in a way that you can understand. The law is a highly complicated system written in archaic English and heavily influenced by Latin. There are movements designed to end the unnecessary complications, but for now, the law is here to stay. Foremost, you need to be able to understand what the law means for you and your situation.

Beyond this, immigration law is a hot button issue at the moment. The actual letter of the law seems to be constantly changing, again making it tough to understand. If you cannot grasp what the lawyer is telling you during the free consultation, or if they aren't able to explain the process to you in a way that you can understand, this isn't the right lawyer for you. 

When choosing an attorney, you want to go local if possible. The law varies from state to state, and even in the cases where it doesn't, the law's interpretation differs between states. This means if you're looking for immigration to New York State, you'll want to search for something like immigration lawyers New York. Going local also increases the chances that the attorney in question has experience working with the particular judges or caseworkers that will be handling your situation.

Again, during your consultation, you want to be paying attention to how often your meeting is interrupted. Is the lawyer constantly taking calls with an assistant running in and out of the room to tell them things nonstop? You can bet that this is the sort of experience you're also going to have if you decide to hire this person as your lawyer. Ideally, you want to be working with someone who gives you their full attention when you come in.

Most lawyers don't work in a vacuum. This means that the lawyer you decide to go with will more than likely result in you working with other members of their staff from time to time. Ask who else will be assisting with your case, and make sure to introduce yourself to them and get a feel for whether you could work with all people involved or not.

Yes, some lawyers are fantastic at their jobs. Yes, they can give you a percentage of their successes. Yes, they can present to you an idea of how they think the case will go. No lawyer can predict the future. If an attorney makes promises to you regarding the outcome of your case, this is a big red flag. 

The above information should help you begin the process of searching for your immigration lawyer. Avoid the temptation to choose speed over quality. The right fit could make all the difference.