How to Find the Best Immigration Attorney in Los Angeles
Immigration law is one of the most complicated areas of law in the United States. The process is extensive and requires attention to detail in order to succeed, so it’s a good idea to find an immigration attorney who has experience with this area of the law.
In this article, you will discover how to find the best immigration attorney in Los Angeles.
How to Find the Best Immigration Attorney in Los Angeles
Fighting for your right to stay in the United States?
Whether you came here seeking asylum or you want to finally become a full citizen, the current political climate can make it very difficult to advocate for yourself. This is especially true if you have been arrested by ICE or detained under suspicion of being undocumented.
Even people who just want to apply for a visa, extend a vacation stay, or get married to someone living on U.S. soil can face immense hardship. The good news is that it is possible to fight for your right to your own American dream if you have the right help.
If you want to win your case and protect your right to remain in the United States, you need an immigration attorney in Los Angeles – and we can help you find them.
Here’s how to find the best immigration attorney in Los Angeles.
Use an Attorney Referral Service
If you don’t feel confident in what you find, or you just want to ensure a more reliable experience, consider using a lawyer referral service. All California-based referral services function by cross-matching basic information you provide with a database of vetted, proven attorneys. Then, they provide you with contact information or set up an initial consultation so you can get to know the attorney before you hire them.
The California Bar licenses and monitors every referral service operating in the state of California, so you can rest assured you’re working with professionals.
Call the California Bar
Still not feeling confident about your choices? You can contact the California Bar directly and use their own in-house service. However, it should be noted that this is in fact a referral to an outside service – the Bar does not provide direct referrals.
Contact AILA
Lastly, you can check with the American Immigration Lawyers’ Association (AILA). This organization is responsible for overseeing all immigration attorneys in California and can help you confirm whether any lawyer you choose has a good reputation, an excellent win-to-loss ratio, and few complaints.
Avoiding Questionable Lawyers
As unfortunate and difficult as it is to admit, not every immigration lawyer has your best interests in mind. Some attorneys aim for quantity, rather than quality, seeking out cases they aren’t particularly interested in or know won’t succeed. They put in only a token effort, if any effort at all, and still collect payment – which is not only unethical but also a borderline scam.
Beware of Client-Surfing At Local Offices
One of the biggest “red flags” is when an attorney solicits you out of the blue at an immigration office, USCIS, or any other local government facility. This is a common tactic from high-volume lawyers, and it is highly frowned upon by the California Bar.
Ask yourself why they’re offering their services…what are they getting out of it? The best immigration attorney in Los Angeles has a robust client list already; they won’t need to try to convince people to hire them out of the blue.
Be Sure Your Lawyer is Legitimate
You should also verify any lawyer you work with before you sign anything or hand overpayment. Ask the lawyer to prove they have an active license to practice law or contact the California Bar to confirm their license number. You can also ask any prospective attorney to tell you about their experience with immigration cases.
Avoid anyone who calls themselves anything but an attorney or lawyer – including “consultants” “notaries” and “petition assistants.” These individuals generally are not attorneys and may lack the experience to truly help you fight.
Beware Questionable Advice
You hire the best immigration attorney in Los Angeles because you aren’t a law expert yourself. However, it pays to familiarize yourself with the basics so you can recognize when someone might be giving you bad advice.
Some examples of bad advice are obvious:
- Telling you to lie to ICE or Border Patrol
- Telling you to run before your court date
- Suggesting you bribe someone with money
- Offering you access to fake identification
Other examples might not be so obvious:
- Convincing you to pay them extra for a “faster case”
- Giving you incorrect information about processes
- Telling you they can guarantee your win
- Charging “surprise fees” for included services
- Giving you unreliable timelines or promises
Lawyers should always be upfront, honest, and willing to say “I don’t know” or “I can’t give you an answer right now – but I’ll find one.” Someone who constantly throws out vague or strange answers maybe just trying to appease you – not help you.
Schedule Multiple Consultations
At this point, you should have a relatively reliable shortlist of the best immigration lawyers in Los Angeles. You don’t have to simply pick someone and commit to working with them. In fact, you should consult with between three to five choices to get a feel for how they work, and if you get along with them before you decide.
At each consultation, ask plenty of questions about the lawyer’s experience level, past clients, and track record. Questions about fees, timelines, and whether or not the lawyer works alone or with other professionals are also pertinent.
Pay close attention to how the lawyer responds to you and how forthcoming they are. Do they speak with you respectfully, or do they talk down to you? Is the attorney being honest, or do you suspect they’re giving you over-inflated promises?
Also, get a feel for their office and the people they work with. If they are associated with a law firm, does the office feel professional? Are the front desk staff respectful? Does the lawyer offer mobile law services, or will you need to travel to them for help? These may seem like “fringe benefits,” but they can make a big difference in a long or difficult case where you make regular contact with your lawyer.
Are you in search for a certified attorney to represent you?
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