The stakes for finding an immigration attorney in Arizona have never been so high. In 2010, Arizona passed the controversial SB 1070 law that made it a misdemeanor for an immigrant to be in Arizona without the proper registration documents required by the U.S. government. As part of the legislation, anyone could be asked to provide documentation as "proof" of their status if law enforcement has a reasonable suspicion that the individual is an illegal alien. Needless to say, immigration attorneys in Arizona have been busy ever since. Given the tensions surrounding this law and the strong emotions on both sides of this highly politicized issue, if you find yourself ensnared by an immigration issue in Arizona, you may need an immigration lawyer to help you, and quick. Here are some tips for finding an immigration attorney in Arizona.
First, review the general strategies outlined in this section entitled, Finding an Experienced Immigration Attorney or Law Firm. This will give you a general overview of how to search for and find a qualified immigration attorney, regardless of where you live. You can then refer to attorney directories and other listing resources specific to Arizona that will further help you in your search for the right lawyer.
Arizona Immigration Lawyer Resources
There are plenty of ways to find attorneys these days. There are many attorney directories online, providing a rich source of information for anyone in need of an immigration lawyer. For example, Attorney Pages provides directory listings for Arizona immigration lawyers by county and city. Another option is the State Bar website for Arizona. The Arizona State Bar provides additional information for specific attorneys practicing law in the State of Arizona. You can also search for an attorney by the county you live in and view their areas of specialization. You can also search for attorneys by practice area.
Arizona and Local Bar Associations
In addition to the Arizona State Bar association, every county in Arizona usually has a local bar association. Sometimes cities have a local bar as well. You may even find immigration-specific bars in you area. Contact information for the bar association in your area can be found somewhere at the local court house. If it is a larger organization, it may actually have a listing in the phone book. More and more, bar associations are reaching out to members and potential clients through social networking options like Facebook and Twitter. Use the search feature on these sites to find additional information. From the local bar, you can learn which attorneys do immigration law. From the attorney’s Facebook page, you can begin to get an idea of how you feel about that particular attorney and background info on the types of cases they handle.
It is best to find an attorney within Arizona that can resolve your immigration issues. Local counsel usually fare better when dealing with local agencies because they already have a working relationship with them. They are also more familiar with local rules and procedures.