Why is the first consultation necessary? What to expect from it?
We never take a case without prior consultation, and there are reasons for that. First we need to determine whether there is a case at all, and if so, what are the chances of success, how difficult it will be.
The consultation lasts up to 40 minutes and is always paid. Why? Because the lawyer sells only time, he has nothing else to sell. Of course, this time includes knowledge, the ability to analyze, ask the right questions, filter out unnecessary information, outline the optimal strategy, and sometimes consider available alternative solutions.
For example, does it make sense for a person to stay in America and try to get a green card based on some petition, or is it better to return to their homeland and wait for an immigration visa there? What risks and time intervals are associated with a particular decision? Each person has his own situation, some options are more acceptable than others. All this is discussed during the consultation.
Next, based on the chosen strategy, the lawyer determines the amount of the fee, based on his experience, how much time it will take to prepare documents, as well as to prepare the client for an interview or court.
Does the client need to prepare for a consultation? Many people write down questions, but more often it turns out that many questions are not relevant at all.
We do not expect that we will advise a person who understands immigration laws. Immigration law is one of the most complex, with various specializations within it, and if an attorney specializes in asylum, he may have little understanding of the issues associated with obtaining a green card through investment.
Our company Palant & Lust has two partners. Each partner specializes in three or four areas of immigration law, although, of course, our general legal expertise allows us to answer questions from a wide variety of areas of immigration law.
Boris Palant (his experience as a lawyer is 40 years) mainly deals with the following cases:
• asylum,
• visas and green cards for people with outstanding or exceptional achievements in science, art, business or sports,
• difficult cases related to denials of a petition for spousal reunification.
Among his clients were outstanding scientists and famous artists and writers, Olympic champions and world champions in various sports.
Irina Last is doing more:
• fiance visas,
• green cards based on petitions from relatives,
• work visas,
• petitions based on investments,
• lawsuits in federal court.
A lawsuit in federal court is perhaps the most effective method of forcing USCIS to issue a decision quickly. It is no secret that people sometimes have to wait years for such a decision, which can seriously disrupt plans related to work or personal life.
The consultation serves not only so that the lawyer can evaluate the case and outline a strategy, but also so that the client understands whether he can work with the lawyer. Does he/she understand the explanations, is it easy to communicate with the lawyer, is the lawyer punctual?
If the lawyer determines that the case is real and the client is satisfied with the amount of the fee, our firm prepares an agreement for the provision of legal services, which lists our responsibilities for conducting the case, as well as a payment schedule. After signing the contract and the client making the advance payment specified in the contract, we begin work.
Use the form below for schedule a consultation