Anonymous
10/21/2025 23:37
Subject: $400/hr for a first consult with a DC attorney?
Skip the attorney and spend the money on your new life elsewhere because with today’s situation you won’t be staying here.
Anonymous
10/21/2025 23:33
Subject: $400/hr for a first consult with a DC attorney?
400/hour seems pretty normal for smaller firm practice in DC and not doing a free initial meeting (consultation) is also pretty standard.
Anonymous
10/21/2025 22:49
Subject: $400/hr for a first consult with a DC attorney?
Is there a reason you didn't do a free consult with a suburban attorney? Some of the best immigration attorneys I know are in Fairfax.
That said, $400 is not unreasonable for a consult (depending on length).
That said, $400 is not unreasonable for a consult (depending on length).
Anonymous
10/21/2025 22:41
Subject: $400/hr for a first consult with a DC attorney?
How about asking the partner for a reference that you can speak with?
Anonymous
10/21/2025 07:14
Subject: $400/hr for a first consult with a DC attorney?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Attorney is one of the partners. Is this an acceptable consultation fee and does it say anything about the firm?
Depends on the field you want to consult about.
Deportation/detention.
The good news is that there are tons of immigration attorneys to choose from. The bad news is that you really have to make sure the person you choose is experienced in immigration law. Otherwise, it is easy for your attorney to mess up, which would ultimately hurt you.
OP here. I agree. But it's hard to know which ones are good... This firm is in DC proper, only deals with immigration, says on their website that some of their practice is deportation (not all immigration lawyers do that) and appears more serious and more expensive than others that I found in the suburbs of DC, whose websites advertises free or more affordable consultations. I am willing to spend what it takes to have excellent and *timely* actions, because in the current political context, it looks like rapid reaction time is of the essence. I just want to make the right choice.
Try contacting immigration clinics at local law schools for help. They’re run by students, but there is always an experienced attorney supervising them.
This is terrible advice.
Anonymous
10/21/2025 06:25
Subject: $400/hr for a first consult with a DC attorney?
Anonymous wrote:Attorney is one of the partners. Is this an acceptable consultation fee and does it say anything about the firm?
That’s what I paid for my divorce consultation, two decades ago. I’m amazed it hasn’t risen.
Anonymous
10/21/2025 06:24
Subject: $400/hr for a first consult with a DC attorney?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Attorney is one of the partners. Is this an acceptable consultation fee and does it say anything about the firm?
Depends on the field you want to consult about.
Deportation/detention.
The good news is that there are tons of immigration attorneys to choose from. The bad news is that you really have to make sure the person you choose is experienced in immigration law. Otherwise, it is easy for your attorney to mess up, which would ultimately hurt you.
OP here. I agree. But it's hard to know which ones are good... This firm is in DC proper, only deals with immigration, says on their website that some of their practice is deportation (not all immigration lawyers do that) and appears more serious and more expensive than others that I found in the suburbs of DC, whose websites advertises free or more affordable consultations. I am willing to spend what it takes to have excellent and *timely* actions, because in the current political context, it looks like rapid reaction time is of the essence. I just want to make the right choice.
I could be wrong, but my sense is that the longevity of an immigration practice, particularly in the non-commercial context, is a good indicator of competence. Even more than in other areas of practice a lot of the work comes via referrals, bringing in additional family members, etc. Paradoxically, website quality may bear an inverse relationship to quality. The best immigration lawyers don’t need to advertise.
Anonymous
10/20/2025 23:09
Subject: $400/hr for a first consult with a DC attorney?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Attorney is one of the partners. Is this an acceptable consultation fee and does it say anything about the firm?
Depends on the field you want to consult about.
Deportation/detention.
The good news is that there are tons of immigration attorneys to choose from. The bad news is that you really have to make sure the person you choose is experienced in immigration law. Otherwise, it is easy for your attorney to mess up, which would ultimately hurt you.
OP here. I agree. But it's hard to know which ones are good... This firm is in DC proper, only deals with immigration, says on their website that some of their practice is deportation (not all immigration lawyers do that) and appears more serious and more expensive than others that I found in the suburbs of DC, whose websites advertises free or more affordable consultations. I am willing to spend what it takes to have excellent and *timely* actions, because in the current political context, it looks like rapid reaction time is of the essence. I just want to make the right choice.
Try contacting immigration clinics at local law schools for help. They’re run by students, but there is always an experienced attorney supervising them.
Anonymous
10/20/2025 20:54
Subject: $400/hr for a first consult with a DC attorney?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Attorney is one of the partners. Is this an acceptable consultation fee and does it say anything about the firm?
Depends on the field you want to consult about.
Deportation/detention.
The good news is that there are tons of immigration attorneys to choose from. The bad news is that you really have to make sure the person you choose is experienced in immigration law. Otherwise, it is easy for your attorney to mess up, which would ultimately hurt you.
OP here. I agree. But it's hard to know which ones are good... This firm is in DC proper, only deals with immigration, says on their website that some of their practice is deportation (not all immigration lawyers do that) and appears more serious and more expensive than others that I found in the suburbs of DC, whose websites advertises free or more affordable consultations. I am willing to spend what it takes to have excellent and *timely* actions, because in the current political context, it looks like rapid reaction time is of the essence. I just want to make the right choice.
Anonymous
10/20/2025 20:06
Subject: $400/hr for a first consult with a DC attorney?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Attorney is one of the partners. Is this an acceptable consultation fee and does it say anything about the firm?
Depends on the field you want to consult about.
Deportation/detention.
The good news is that there are tons of immigration attorneys to choose from. The bad news is that you really have to make sure the person you choose is experienced in immigration law. Otherwise, it is easy for your attorney to mess up, which would ultimately hurt you.
Anonymous
10/20/2025 19:14
Subject: $400/hr for a first consult with a DC attorney?
That they are very inexpensive.
Anonymous
10/20/2025 19:07
Subject: $400/hr for a first consult with a DC attorney?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Attorney is one of the partners. Is this an acceptable consultation fee and does it say anything about the firm?
Depends on the field you want to consult about.
Deportation/detention.
Anonymous
10/20/2025 19:01
Subject: $400/hr for a first consult with a DC attorney?
Anonymous wrote:Attorney is one of the partners. Is this an acceptable consultation fee and does it say anything about the firm?
Depends on the field you want to consult about.
Anonymous
10/20/2025 19:00
Subject: $400/hr for a first consult with a DC attorney?
That's very low. Partners at my firm are well over $700 an hour. Not NYC or Boston.
Anonymous
10/20/2025 18:59
Subject: $400/hr for a first consult with a DC attorney?
Attorney is one of the partners. Is this an acceptable consultation fee and does it say anything about the firm?