Although there nearly 100,000 licensed attorneys in Florida, only a few are experts in immigration and nationality law.
Immigration law is a highly specialized field that is unlike most other areas of legal practice in that the Federal regulations and procedures are constantly changing and as well as being experienced in those, an immigration attorney also needs to know about all of the different procedures used across the world in U.S. embassies and consulates.
If you need to retain an immigration lawyer, you need one who is a specialist in the area, and in Florida, if they are board certified that is a sign that they are an expert in that field. You should also try and make sure that they are a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) and that they have experience across a wide range of immigration matters, and especially, in this case, deportation law.
It is also important to find a lawyer who can identify with you and who can empathize with your situation. Maybe look for one who understands your home country, your culture and who can also speak your language. You should check who will actually be working on your case and that you will be able to talk to your attorney rather than just an assistant.
And finally you need a lawyer who is both honest and who has integrity, which although important qualities of any attorney, are especially vital in the area of immigration law.
