Nobody seeks asylum in another country for the sake of it. There have to be valid reasons that prompt someone to opt to live in another country. Most of those who seek asylum in other nations do so due to persecution or fear of being persecuted for the following reasons; political opinion, nationality, race, religion, or being a member of a particular social group.
However, the process of seeking asylum can sometimes be quite complicated; to help you navigate some of the hurdles involved, you will need the services of an asylum lawyer. With their vast knowledge of immigration law, they will work to see that your asylum request is granted.
How to choose the best asylum lawyer?
As an asylum seeker, you do not want anything to ruin your chances of being accepted into the country of your choice. Remember that any simple mistake on your part can cost you the opportunity of residing in a given country. To avoid taking chances, it is important to seek the services of a lawyer. Here are tips on how to choose a competent lawyer.
Choose quality
As tempting as it might be to settle for a cheap attorney, it is always advisable to consider their qualifications to establish whether they can win an asylum case on your behalf. Be sure to choose quality over cost; it is safe to pay a little more for quality legal services than hire a less qualified asylum attorney simply because they are cheap to hire.
Look for a referral
As you venture out to look for an asylum attorney, connect with your close friends and relatives and confirm either any of them has used one before. That way, you might end up with an asylum attorney who has proved their competence in past cases. You can also explore the internet space to get referrals from an outstanding lawyer.
Confirm credentials
Once you have spotted an attorney to help you in your asylum case, it is important to do a background check on them to ascertain their credentials. You can achieve this by going through the lawyer’s website or using other available tools or sources. By contacting the local state bar where the lawyer is practicing, you can also get valuable information about them through that channel.
Interview the asylum lawyers you have shortlisted
Once you are through shortlisting the best asylum lawyers that you could find, commence the work of interviewing them either through phone calls or scheduling a physical interview. Ask them about similar cases they have worked on and how those cases turn out to be. Their knowledge of immigration laws should be beyond doubt.
Negotiate the fee
It is important to know from your attorney the amount of money they will be charging for their services. As you negotiate with your attorney for an affordable rate, make sure to confirm whether they will be charging you on an hourly basis or a flat-rate approach. Finally, enquire about extra charges like postage and phone charges and how such costs will be handled.
Make sure that you are comfortable
Even as you focus on the technical aspects of the lawyer you want to represent you, make sure that you are also comfortable working with them. You might prefer working with a female lawyer rather than a male lawyer and vice versa. Language is another important aspect that you need to take into account. It is easier working with an attorney who understands and can communicate in the language you are conversant with.
Final thought
The process of hiring an asylum lawyer should be treated with a lot of seriousness. Your choice can determine whether you are accepted into your country of choice or whether your asylum request is denied. You can apply the tips explored in this article to come up with a prudent choice.