Immigration Attorney Near Me: Tips For Choosing The Best Attorney For You

By February 12, 2020Immigration Law Blog
immigration attorney near me

When you hop online and begin a search for an “immigration attorney near me”, you always want to hire the best attorney for your needs. This means being able to screen different attorneys to find the “right one” for you. Today we’re going to share a few tips on how you can do that.

Immigration Attorney Near Me: Tips For Choosing The Best Attorney For You

When It Comes to Fees…

No one wants an attorney who overcharges which leads many people to look for a cheaper attorney. Unfortunately, it also leads to people looking for “bargain” attorneys who offer the lowest fees. We want you to remember that the lowest fees aren’t necessarily the best option…in fact, most of the time they’re just as bad of an option (if not worse) than the attorney who overcharges.

We know that you have a budget when it comes to hiring an attorney and you should always consider that budget during the hiring process. What you should also keep in mind, however, is that on either extreme, you are likely to face difficulties. An attorney who doesn’t charge average rates is likely an attorney who needs the business and they likely need the business because they are a poor attorney or have questionable ethics. An attorney who charges too much for their services is either in exceptionally high demand (which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it could impact how much attention they are able to give your case) or they are unethical – an attorney who could cause you more problems in the immigration process.

Try instead to look for an attorney whose rates fall within your budget and someone who has a good reputation.

Contact With Your Attorney

When we consider communicating or contact with your attorney, things can be a little tricky. You want to hire an attorney who will check in with you often so that you always know what is happening with your case. On the other hand, you want an attorney who is reputable and good at what they do which means that they are going to be busy. So, what should you look for when it comes to hiring an attorney who is within reach but also good at their job?

The best way to get an attorney who meets your needs is to be upfront with questions when you consult your attorney for the first time. Ask them if they will be personally working on your case. Will they be overseeing the case while their paralegals or partners do most of the legwork? If you are consulting a reputable attorney group, you don’t need to worry about other people in the company working on your case because your attorney will still be a presence in the case. If you are unsure about the reputation of the law firm in question, however, it’s always best to walk away.

Language Barriers

If English is your second language, looking for an attorney for your immigration needs can get quite complicated. We always recommend hiring an immigration attorney who speaks your native language or who has translation services on hand who can help you to communicate with your lawyer.

The immigration legal system is quite complicated and it’s important that you understand what is happening with your case and what you need to do to help things go smoothly. If you are not a native English speaker, the complicated nature of immigration law becomes even more complicated due to language barriers. Having an attorney who is fluent in your native language helps to make sure that you always understand what is going on with your case and that there are no misunderstandings.

Comfort

This may sound like strange criteria for selecting an attorney for your immigration needs, but it’s important that you always feel comfortable with your attorney. You need to be completely honest with your attorney at all times and in order to do that, you need to feel comfortable with them. Additionally, if you feel that your attorney is dismissive or not interested in your case, it can leave you feeling even more anxious about the immigration process.

It’s also important to build a good relationship and feel comfortable with your attorney because – depending on where you are in the immigration process – you may need to work with your immigration attorney again in the future. For example, if you come to the country and have a green card and later want to obtain citizenship, your immigration attorney will be able to help you with this using their existing knowledge of your circumstances and your case.

You Find An Attorney, They Don’t Find You

There are some immigration attorneys who will chase after clients by waiting at the USCIS office or other such locations in order to jump on you and recruit you as a client before you have a chance to look at your options for legal representation. This is not the type of attorney you want to hire. You should be looking for your own attorney by doing research, asking for referrals, and asking for recommendations from others in your community. Why? Because reputable attorneys and attorneys who are good at what they do are busy! They don’t have time to wait around and jump on unsuspecting potential clients.

Have You Been Searching For “An Immigration Attorney Near Me”?

If you’re still searching for “an immigration attorney near me” and live in or around Pasadena, California, Nelson and Associates can help! Just give us a call today at 626-683-3451 to set up your consultation to see how we can help you with your immigration needs!