Immigration law is one of the most emotional and important areas of law in which a lawyer can work.
The very future of people’s lives is put in their hands each and every day and it is their responsibility to provide them with the right advice and representation at all times.
If you are looking for a local immigration lawyer in your area, an online search or a scan of a lawyer’s resume will only tell you so much. With so much at stake, it is the personal qualities of an immigration lawyer that make them stand out from other lawyers, empathising with those in highly stressful and upsetting situations and helping them navigate their way to the best possible solution.
When looking for an immigration solicitor Glasgow, here are 3 qualities that you should ensure they possess before agreeing to work with them.
Empathy
The best immigration lawyers are in their position due to their desire to help others. Immigration lawyers tend to earn less than certain other lawyers such as criminal lawyers and particularly corporate lawyers and it is their passion to see justice served and protect the rights of their clients that motivates them most.
At least, that is how is the theory. Unfortunately, some lawyers aren’t as invested and don’t really care what the outcome of the case is as. It is essential that you find one who does and demonstrates genuine empathy towards your situation and a desire to help you achieve the most satisfactory outcome possible.
You might wish to bring a trusted friend or family member with you when attending your initial consultation with an immigration lawyer to get a second opinion on the type of character they are.
Another good way to judge how committed and empathetic a lawyer is, can be to look at some of their previous client reviews.
Finding an immigration lawyer who genuinely cares about the outcome of your situation is particularly important if you are paying for a specific service such as assistance with an appeal or visa application rather than for legal assistance where the fee they receive is dependent on the outcome of the case.
Great communication skills
Communication is the cornerstone of being a lawyer and immigration lawyers must have superb written and oral communication skill to be successful.
Firstly, it is the task of an immigration lawyer to simplify complex legislation and application processes so that they are less daunting and overwhelming. They can assist you in the completion and submission of application forms and appeals and ensure that all paperwork is filled our correctly and filed on time.
Going through the immigration system can cause a huge amount of stress, especially considering that this is often the first time that person has been in the country and may be unaware of how the process works. An immigration lawyer should help to reassure their clients, talking them through the entire process and answering any questions they may have.
Great communication skills are not only important when your lawyer is working with you directly, but also when they are representing you in legal proceedings. If you are appealing for the right to stay in the UK, for example, you may be asked to attend a hearing and your immigration lawyer will be the one to stand up and present your case.
It is vital they are able to present the facts of your appeal in the most convincing possible manner. If your lawyer doesn’t convince you beyond doubt in the very first meeting that they are the right choice of your needs, do you really want to leave your future in their hands and let them try to convince the authorities of your case.
Attention to detail
The smallest error in paperwork or when building your case could have devastating consequences for your visa application or similar immigration related issue.
This is one of the major reasons for approaching an immigration lawyer in the first place, to ensure that all the minor details are taken care of by someone who has an in-depth knowledge of immigration law.
If you do not think that the lawyer you are considering has the right attention to detail, therefore, stop considering them, it simply isn’t worth the risk.
There are so many opportunities for seemingly small issues to de-rail an immigration application along the way and you need to be confident there will be no slip ups or accidents that could have been avoided by a more competent lawyer.