How to Find Legal Help

How to Find Legal Help

• Immigration nonprofits: Visit the Immigration Advocates Network webpage (https://www.immigrationadvocates.org/legaldirectory/) to search for important information about immigrant rights nonprofits in the United States that offer free or low-cost legal help. You can use your zip code to find local organizations, or select your state. A zip code is the 5-digit number at the end of your U.S. mailing address.
• Pro se help desks: Look over this list (https://help.asylumadvocacy.org/pro-se-help-desks/) of organizations that provide limited scope legal assistance to asylum seekers without lawyers in immigration court. Please reach out to these organizations directly for details on their services.
• Private immigration lawyers: Look over this list (https://help.asylumadvocacy.org/private-attorneys/) of private immigration lawyers in different cities. The Asylum Seeker Advocacy Project (ASAP) does not know these lawyers personally, but other local nonprofits recommended them. These offices do charge money, but you can always ask if an office can offer payment plans. Please contact these firms or attorneys directly for details on their services. This list is organized alphabetically by state and city. 

 

What should I know when I search for a lawyer?

These are some important things you should know when searching for a lawyer:

1. A notary is NOT a lawyer in the United States.
2. Before you hire a lawyer, ask how much experience they have with asylum cases in the immigration court.
3. There are lawyers who work pro bono (without cost) and private lawyers. All lawyers, paid or unpaid, have the same professional responsibilities.
4. The lawyer should offer a contract in your language that includes a clear price and a description of the legal services that they will provide.

What can I do if I call an office and no one answers? 

If no one answers when you call a lawyer’s office, you can leave a voicemail with your name and phone number. And you can keep trying!

What should I do if the lawyer says they cannot help me?

If the organization or the lawyer says that they cannot help you, you can ask them if they have recommendations for other trustworthy lawyers in your area. Some offices only take certain types of cases—that is why it is important to continue your search for a lawyer and call various offices.

What are my rights and responsibilities when I have a lawyer? 

Your lawyer is working for you and has certain professional responsibilities towards you and your case. Below, we listed some important points:

• Different types of lawyers: There are lawyers who work for nonprofits and private lawyers. But all lawyers, paid or unpaid, have the same professional responsibilities. Before hiring a lawyer, ask them how much experience they have with asylum cases in the immigration court. 
  • NOTE: A notary is NOT a lawyer in the United States.
• Contract: It is important to have a contract of legal services prepared by your lawyer. You should receive a copy of the contract in your language. The contract should include a clear price and a description of the legal services that the lawyer will provide in your case.
• Communication: It is important that you maintain communication with your lawyer and that you always notify your lawyer of changes in your case. Make sure that your lawyer has your current address and phone number. You should receive regular communication from your lawyer and should feel comfortable calling and asking for updates on your case.
• Documents: You should save all original documents of your case and your lawyer must save copies as well. You can ask your lawyer for copies of everything the lawyer has prepared and submitted to the government on your behalf.
• Confidentiality: All communication with your lawyer is confidential. This means that the lawyer cannot share that communication with anyone else without your permission. Therefore, it is important that you feel comfortable sharing everything that happened to you. It is also important that all the information that you share with your lawyer related to your case is correct.

Firing your lawyer: Finally, if you are not satisfied with your lawyer’s work on your case, you can always fire them. Also, if you think your lawyer has violated the professional rules, you have the right to present a complaint.

This resource was created by the Asylum Seeker Advocacy Project (ASAP) and edited by Immigrant Advocates Response Collaborative (I-ARC). You can view the original resource and any updates on ASAP’s website here: https://help.asylumadvocacy.org/find-help/#lawyer