2. Talk to the person
Question and answer
How can I tell if my immigration or refugee legal representative is reliable?Arrange an in-person meeting, if possible, or a video call with the person who will be providing the legal help. If they will not agree to a video call, this could raise concerns about whether they are trustworthy.
Ask them if there will be a charge. Some lawyers or licensed representatives do not charge for the first meeting.
Others will charge you a fee to give you a legal opinion about your situation. This fee is usually only a part of what they will charge for your matter.
At the first meeting, the lawyer or representative should:
- tell you about their experience with refugee or immigration issues
- explain how they would handle your case
- ask you for the relevant facts of your case
- explain to you how the law affects your situation
- tell you your options
- give an estimate of how long they think your case will take
- explain what you should do next
If they do not provide this information, ask them for it.