Questions An Immigration Lawyer Should Answer For His Client

If you're looking for an immigration lawyer, you may be wondering what criteria you should be considering before you shell out your money. It's a good thing to ponder, as no two attorneys are equal. You don't necessarily need the best legal mind of the 21st century by your side, but you should at least make sure you are going to get what you pay for. A good way to do this is to ask questions. Most attorneys provide free initial consultations for potential clients. Even if you have to pay a few bucks to sit down with an attorney, it's worth it to ensure your search is thorough. Here are some questions every attorney should be willing to answer.

Where are your references?
A good immigration lawyer will have collected no shortage of effusive praise and respect from both the legal community and his clients. He should be able to show you some of this as a way of enticing you into hiring him. Now, the inability to provide you with client testimonials isn't necessarily indicative of a bad attorney. After all, the details of his cases are confidential and clients may not be willing to have their communications used as propaganda. But they should be able to give you the names of other professionals in the field that can speak highly of his practice.

Am I likely to be successful?
A good immigration lawyer will be honest with you from the start. If you're embarking on a deportation appeal, for instance, that stands little chance of being successful; they should be willing to tell you this. That doesn't mean they can't take the case even so, but only a smarmy attorney will fill you with false hope, all the while billing you for doing work he has reason to believe will come to absolutely no good end. Any attorney who has been in the game long enough will be able to assess your chances of completing whatever goal you're reaching for. Ask them to be straight with you about your prospects.

What is your fee schedule?
This is important. Too many clients will fail to understand exactly why, when, and how they will be billed for the services their immigration lawyer is providing. This can result in some mixed messages and bad feelings later on when an unexpected bill comes in the mail. Make sure you get the straight dope on how much you'll be spending before you hire an attorney. A reputable firm should have no issues being straightforward with their billing practices.