Refugee and Immigration Services (@ccmkerefugeeandimmigration): How to Hire a Lawyer (English)
This is a community education video by Catholic Charities Milwaukee. Today we are going to talk about how to hire a lawyer. Immigrants to the United States often need a lawyer to help with important processes like getting a green card or becoming a citizen.
If you haven’t hired a lawyer before, it can seem stressful. It can also cost a lot of money. But, it is good to remember that a lawyer works for you. You are paying them, and they are there to help you. You will want a lawyer who will do a good job and is a good fit for you and your family.
Vocabulary
Here are some words we will use in this video:
Lawyer: a highly trained worker who is licensed to practice law, help you fill out legal documents, and represent your case in court.
Hire: to find someone to do work for you, usually in exchange for pay.
Consultation: a free meeting with a lawyer that takes place before you hire them to see if they are a good fit for your case.
Contract: a formal agreement that you sign, allowing a lawyer to represent you.
Notary: a worker who can help you with legal documents by answering your questions and making sure the people signing are telling the truth. A notary is NOT a lawyer.
Finding the right lawyer
If you were buying a new car, you wouldn’t pick the first one you saw in the lot right away. In the same way, you shouldn’t always hire the first lawyer you talk to. It is smart to speak to at least two or three lawyers in order to find the best one for your case before choosing one and signing a contract. A good lawyer should give you a free consultation to make sure they are the right fit and can do a good job on your case.
Find a good and honest lawyer
Your friends or family may try to help you by recommending a lawyer that they say is “nice.” You need a lawyer who is nice but is also good at their job. A good lawyer is better than a nice lawyer. The best lawyer will give you an honest assessment of your case. This might mean they will tell you things that you don’t want to hear or make you sad. This doesn’t mean you have a bad lawyer, it means they are trying their best to help.
How much does a lawyer cost?
Lawyers can cost a lot of money. But, the best lawyers are not always the most expensive ones. Some organizations have lawyers that offer lower prices for low-income clients. Every lawyer may charge slightly different prices. When looking for the right lawyer, it is important to ask them how much everything will cost. A good lawyer will be honest and tell you what you would pay if they worked for you.
Where to find a lawyer
There are many immigration lawyers and legal organizations that may be able to help with your case. Some work at nonprofit organizations, while others work in private practice. Availability can vary—sometimes lawyers are very busy and may not be able to take on new clients right away. It's a good idea to contact several places to explore your options.
Notaries
It is important to make sure the person you hire is really a lawyer. You can check by entering the lawyer’s name on this website: https://www.wisbar.org/Pages/BasicLaw....
Justice.gov: EOIR https://www.justice.gov/eoir/find-legal-representation
In some countries, a “notario” is a lawyer—but not in the U.S. Here, a notary is someone who can help you sign legal documents, not someone who can represent you in court. In the U.S., notaries only need to be 18, have an 8th-grade education, and pass a test. Lawyers must complete years of higher education and training. Only a licensed lawyer can represent your case. Don’t hire a notary to represent your case.
Your Lawyer Works for You
Remember, your lawyer works for you. You have the power to fire or stop working with your lawyer if they’re doing a bad job. Examples of a lawyer doing a bad job include not showing up for hearings or not getting work done. But, remember, just because a lawyer tells you something that you don’t want to hear doesn’t always mean that they’re doing a bad job. If you do fire your lawyer, you can always hire another one.
Thank you for watching! Please share this video with your family and friends, and subscribe to our channel for more videos like this. Thank you to our sources who provided information for this video. Thank you to our partners.
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Thank you to our sources who provided information for this video and to our interpreter today. Thank you to our partners at Milwaukee Public Schools. This video was made possible by the generous support of our grant funders.
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