AILA Launches New Service to Simplify Search for an Immigration Attorney
September 5, 2006
Washington, DC--- The national office of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) has launched its newest online service, Immigration Lawyer Search (ILS), to help the public find an immigration lawyer who fits their needs based on location, language, and/or specialty. ILS is a free service that acts as a search engine to connect the prospective client with an attorney.
Each of the attorneys who participate in the new service is an AILA member. In addition, each has been an approved AILA member for at least two years, carries a minimum $100,000 professional liability insurance, has completed at least 9 hours of Continuing Legal Education (CLE) classes within the last year, and is licensed and in good standing with a state bar association.
"AILA's goal is to promote and support the delivery of competent, ethical, and lawful immigration services by our members to the public," said Kathleen Walker, President-Elect of AILA. AILA is an association of over 10,000 attorneys, and it is an affiliate of the American Bar Association created in 1946 (www.aila.org). "Our mission includes enhancing the professional development and expertise of our members. The program has been designed to provide a valuable service to the public."
The new ILS web site, found at www.ailalawyer.com, features "Frequently Asked Questions," and information to help prospective clients determine "What type of lawyer do I need?" as well as "Why Choose an AILA Lawyer?" and how to locate pro bono service providers. In addition, the site is available in both English and Spanish.
"We worked to develop a program which would be user-friendly and informative," Walker said.
Once the search is completed, the site provides a detailed description of an attorney who best fits the needs specified in the search, along with the attorney contact information. While the Immigration Lawyer Search is a free service, listed attorneys may or may not charge consultation fees.
AILA's Immigration Lawyer Search service does not offer legal advice or referrals, but provides an easy to use method to locate immigration lawyers who meet the standards indicated above, explained Walker. "The Immigration Lawyer Search is a lawyer locator service, not a referral system," Walker concluded. "Still, it is our hope that this service will be helpful in narrowing the search for selecting an appropriate lawyer by the public."
The mission of the American Immigration Lawyers Association is to promote justice, advocate for fair and reasonable immigration law and policy, advance the quality of immigration and nationality law and practice, and enhance the professional development of its members. AILA is the only U.S. legal association for immigration lawyers.
For more information about the service, call 800-954-0254 or send an e-mail to ils@aila.org.