How Do I Choose an Immigration Attorney?
Date Posted: 3/12/2007 12:04:01 PM
U.S. Immigration law is very complex and it is important that you take great care and ask the right questions in deciding which attorney will be handling your case. If you are going to apply for a work visa, or need counsel on other immigration matters, you should work with a trustworthy and competent attorney who concentrates in handling immigration matters.
While not an all inclusive list, here are some questions you can ask to determine if an attorney is qualified to handle your immigration matter: 1) Are you a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA)? Have you held any offices in bar associations related to the practice of immigration law? AILA is the leading professional association of immigration lawyers in the United States. While membership is not a guarantee of your best choice, the fact that a lawyer is not a member might give you reason for concern. AILA is also an excellent source of information and can be found at www.aila.org. 2) What is your concentration within the field of immigration law? Like any field, there are various specialties and subspecialties (e.g. employment and family based immigration, student visas, etc.). Make sure that the attorney you choose is experienced in the area of law in which your case falls. 3) Have you handled cases like mine? Find out approximately how many and the results. 4) What are your fees and what legal services does this include? It is always best that you get a “retainer agreement” where fees and services are spelled out in writing. 5) Will you be handling my case, or will I be working with a paralegal or legal assistant? Paralegals and legal assistants are a very important part of every law firm. However, it is important that you have access to the attorney that you hire and that he or she has direct involvement in the preparation of your case.
Sometimes, the best way to find a good immigration attorney is to ask your friends or colleagues for referrals to someone with whom they have had a positive experience. The immigration attorney does not have to be located in your state as immigration law is a federal practice. In addition to the above questions, it is important that you know that your attorney holds a license to practice law. All states have licensing authorities who can provide information on Bar membership and confirm if the attorney is in good standing. There are also offices in each state charged with professional regulation where you can find out if an attorney has faced disciplinary proceedings or has had his or her license revoked.
Choosing the right immigration attorney is a critically important decision, and you must take time and care in making the right choice.
*William B. Schiller is a partner in the Chicago-based law firm of Davidson & Schiller, where he practices employment-based immigration law focusing in large part in the representation of international students and faculty. His clients are located nationally and he regularly handles employment based work visas, as well as national interest waivers, extraordinary alien petitions and outstanding researchers and professors. He received his JD from Loyola University-Chicago and LL.M. from King’s College, University of London. He is an adjunct faculty member at Northwestern University, where he teaches a course on international human rights and US refugee law. He can be contacted via telephone at (312) 499-9000; or email: wbs@dsimmlaw.com. For updates on U.S. immigration law, please visit our website at www.davidsonschiller.com.
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