Finding an Immigration Lawyer

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General information, not legal advice. These guides are written by the community, laws vary by state, and policies change. For advice about your own situation, talk to an immigration lawyer (how to find a real one, free if needed).

The right help changes cases. The wrong "help" ends them. This page covers both: where real, often free, legal help lives, and how to spot the fraud that preys on immigrant families.

Free and low-cost help

• National Immigration Legal Services Directory (immigrationadvocates.org): searchable list of nonprofit legal providers by state and county.
• EOIR pro bono list: the immigration court system publishes free legal providers per court.
• Law school clinics take cases free, supervised by professors.
• Some cities and states fund free counsel for detained people. Ask any provider above whether your area has such a program.
• Your consulate often keeps lists of vetted local lawyers.

Paying for one

• Verify they are a real, licensed attorney (state bar lookup) or a DOJ-accredited representative at a recognized organization. Those are the only two kinds of people allowed to give immigration legal advice.
• AILA (the immigration lawyers' association) has a member search at ailalawyer.com.
• Get the fee agreement in writing, ask exactly who will work your case, and never hand over original documents for keeps: you get copies of everything filed.

Notario fraud: the warning

In much of Latin America a "notario" is a legal professional. In the United States a notary public is not a lawyer and cannot give legal advice. Fraudulent notarios, "immigration consultants" and travel agencies destroy cases every year: missed deadlines, wrong forms, invented relief, stolen fees.

Walk away from anyone who:

• Guarantees a result or "knows someone inside"
• Wants cash only, no receipts, no written contract
• Keeps your original documents
• Tells you to sign blank or unread forms
• Sells you a form that is free from the government

Report notario fraud to your state attorney general and at reportfraud.ftc.gov. Reporting protects the next family: fraud thrives on silence.

Questions worth asking any lawyer

How many cases like mine have you handled? What relief might I qualify for? What are the risks of applying? What will each stage cost? Who do I call with questions?