📞 What to Expect When You Call an Attorney

Remember: It’s important that you find and meet with an attorney to discuss your specific immigration case and learn about your options. 

 

Sometimes calling an attorney (also called a lawyer) can feel scary, but it helps to remember that they want to help you! The first phone call to an attorney is very simple. All you have to do when you call their office is tell them: 

• Your full name.
• Your phone number (including the area code).
• That you came to the United States as an unaccompanied child and need legal representation.
• That you would like to schedule an initial consultation (which simply means the first meeting with the attorney to discuss your case and options). 

Make sure you keep track of which attorneys you have tried to contact or those with whom you are currently in touch with – you can use this document to take notes. This will make it easier for you to follow up and to know who you need to reach out to again. It will also help you show to a judge that you have been trying to find legal representation. 

☝️ Important: While some initial consultations are free, some attorneys charge a fee for their initial consultations. It’s important to ask the attorney whether or not they charge a fee BEFORE you meet with them. If they do charge a fee that you cannot pay, some nonprofits may offer a discount or a fee waiver (which means you would not have to pay). 

 

What do I do if no one answers and I need to leave a message? 

When you first call an attorney’s office, it’s possible that no one will answer. You may hear a voice message in English on an answering machine. If you do not understand English, you can stay on the line and wait until you hear options in Spanish. To leave a message, wait for the beep at the very end. In the box below you can find an example of a message you can leave on the machine. If you are only able to talk on WhatsApp or using a cell phone, it’s important to let them know as well. 

“Hello, my name is ___________. I am an unaccompanied child and need legal representation. I would like to know the cost and your availability for an initial consultation. My phone number is ____________ on WhatsApp or my regular line.”

 

What do I do if someone answers my call in English? 

If someone does answer the phone when you first call, it’s likely that they will answer in English. Do not hang up! If you do not understand English, you can ask if there is someone who can speak to you in Spanish or whatever your preferred language is. For example, you can simply say “¿Hablan español?” or “¿Alguien habla español?” and they will know that you need a Spanish speaker. If they can, the person who answers might transfer you to someone else who also speaks your language. They may need some time to find an interpreter. If they transfer you to an interpreter, you can give all of your contact information to the interpreter (like the example message in the box above). 

It could also be a good idea to try calling back later so that you can leave a voice message with all of your information. 

🚨 If you are nervous about someone answering in a different language, you can contact Respond Crisis Translation to see if they can help you. Click here and fill out the form to request interpretation.  

 

What do I do if no one calls me back? 

Remember that it may take several weeks for an attorney or organization to get back to you, because many children may be calling. Don’t get discouraged and keep calling! If you don’t hear back from an attorney, you can check their website to see if they offer the option to book a consultation online. 

You can also send the attorney an email with all of the important information they need (your name, phone number, that you are an unaccompanied child who needs legal representation, and that you’d like to schedule an initial consultation). If you don’t have your own email set up, click here to watch a video that explains how to make a Gmail account. 

You can copy and paste the following message, but make sure you put the correct information in the spaces where the text in brackets is. 

Hello, My name is [type your first and last name]. I am an unaccompanied child and need legal representation. Please let me know if you are available and how much you charge for an initial consultation. My phone number is [type your full phone number, including the area code]. My preferred language is [type the language you are most comfortable with]. Please contact me through WhatsApp or my regular line. Thank you. Sincerely, [type your first and last name]

 

If the attorneys you contacted do not offer an online reservation option and do not return your calls or email, you can get in touch with ImportaMí. Let us know the attorney’s name and contact information, and we will try to contact them to help you. 

➡️To learn more about what your first consultation with an immigration lawyer will be like and how to prepare for it, check out our article, How Should I Prepare for my First Immigration Consultation. 

 

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SOURCES:

Bordas Law Firm. (n.d.). Tips when calling a lawyer for the first time. Retrieved from https://www.bordaslaw.com/blog_post/tips-when-calling-lawyer-first-time/

American Bar Association. (n.d.). How do I know if a lawyer is right for me? Retrieved September 9, 2019, from https://www.americanbar.org/groups/public_education/resources/public-information/how-do-i-know-if-a-lawyer-is-right-for-me-/