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What is the best way to select a competent, experienced, and ethical immigration attorney?
There are a number of steps aliens and their employers can take to determine the professional standing and competence of an immigration attorney.
First, be aware that California, Florida, North Carolina and Texas have established a programs which recognize the practice of immigration law as a certified legal specialty. In order to obtain certification in California, attorneys must pass a 7-hour written examination, demonstrate experience in a wide range of immigration matters, take a certain amount of continuing legal education courses, receive recommendations by other immigration attorneys and be admitted to practice law in the State of California.
Anyone wishing to obtain the official list of all attorneys who are certified specialists in immigration and nationality law in the State of California may do so online.
Second, one should also consult with other lawyers, business associates, friends and relatives in order to obtain the names of reputable immigration lawyers.
Information about attorneys and law firms may be found by looking through the publication that lawyers use when they are seeking the services of another lawyer, the Lawyers.com, an online service of the prestigious Martindale Hubbell Legal Directory. This service provides you with the lawyer's biographical data and specialty. Lawyers are rated on their legal expertise and ethical standards. The top rating is " A.V." - "A" for very high legal ability and "V" for very high ethics. Ratings are based on responses to anonymous questionnaires sent to lawyers and judges, and tend to be quite reliable.
Once you have narrowed the number of attorneys who you wish to consider, you should arrange to visit each in his or her office. At the visit, foreign nationals should bring their passports, arrival-departure form, and any all documents relating to their immigration status. Anyone interested in obtaining a "working visa" should bring a resume for the attorney to study.
You should take notes during the meeting, and make a personal evaluation of the attorney's competence, experience, trustworthiness and various relevant personality traits.
You should request fee quotes for each portion of the legal work to be rendered. You should inquire whether there will be additional charges for such items as filing fees, advertising, photocopying and phone calls. Most attorneys will allow you to pay your fee on an installment basis.
You may wish to interview as many as 3 or 4 attorneys before making a final choice.
A good attorney will return your phone calls promptly, and will keep you informed about the progress of your case. There is no reason for an immigration attorney to keep your passport or original documents like marriage and birth certificates, professional licenses, college transcripts and diplomas.
Clients also have responsibilities. You must tell you attorney "the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth." Telling a lie to your attorney is like cheating at solitaire, with more serious consequences. It may cause your attorney to make a tactical mistake in your case, one that may cost you extra time and money.
If you are not satisfied with your attorney, you are not obligated to continue using his services. You may retain a new attorney and sign a "substitution of counsel" form. The new attorney will mail this form to the previous attorney and request that your file be mailed to him. This relieves you of the responsibility of personally confronting your former attorney.
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