Shabana Bukhari 
In this comprehensive guide, we will empower you with the knowledge and insights you need to connect with a Nigerian immigration lawyer near you, specializing in the field of British immigration law. While you might be searching for a “Nigerian Immigration Lawyer Near Me,” we’ll delve into an essential question: Does the nationality of your lawyer truly matter? Is it crucial to hire a Nigerian lawyer, or can you seek legal assistance from any nationality with equal confidence? We’ll address these important objections and provide you with a clear understanding of why trustworthiness and competence should be your foremost criteria when seeking legal support for your immigration needs. So, let’s embark on this journey to find the perfect immigration lawyer to guide you through your British immigration applications and appeals, irrespective of their nationality.
Why does it not matter what nationality your lawyer is?
Whether your immigration lawyer is Nigerian or not makes no difference to the quality of advice you receive on any British immigration application or appeal you wish to make. If you have any reservations or preferences, they should only lie with the quality of advice you are receiving. If you wish to seek a lawyer which speaks Hausa or Yoruba, which are the top two most spoken languages in Nigeria. Some lawyers that work in British immigration firms have these language abilities and if not, nowadays there are other forms of communication you can have with a lawyer who does not speak your native language.
No matter what nationality your lawyer is, they will be able to offer you advice and tailor your specific requirements, guiding you through any application or appeal you wish to make. Therefore, it is key that your lawyer is a trusted expert in the area as this is the thing which will increase the likely success of your application:
Why does it matter that your lawyer is a trusted expert?
There are several reasons why it matters to have a trusted lawyer:
First Reason: Accredited
The first reason why you should use trusted immigration lawyers is because they will be accredited by a professional body. Therefore, as solicitors are regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) who enforce high ethical standards within the legal profession and have the powers to also remove a solicitor’s accreditation for not doing so. It means as a client you are receiving advice from those who are constantly scrutinised and watched over meaning the advice received will be of a high standard.
If you wish to enquire about whether a certain top rated immigration lawyer which you have found near you is accredited follow this link: SRA | Solicitors Register | Solicitors Regulation Authority. Type the name of the solicitor in and it will show you whether they are registered and for how long they have been registered for.
Second Reason: Consistent Communication
The second reason why you should use trusted immigration lawyers is because you will receive consistent communication from them.
From the day you first enquire into their services and have a meeting, a communication method should be decided on. This can be suited to the clients need, for instance they may need to use remote forms of communication as they live abroad or too far away from visiting the office in person.
Then throughout your application or appeal process top rated immigration solicitors will keep you informed and involved throughout. This is to your best interests because they will either be contacting you to provide important updates or to ask you to submit certain documents as evidence.
Third Reason: Client Satisfaction
The third reason why you should use trusted immigration lawyers is because they will hold client satisfaction in great regard. To be considered a trusted lawyer this will usually be based on excellent reviews from previous clients.
Client satisfaction will suggest that this solicitor has put their client first and ensured they are comfortable throughout the entire process. For instance, they will be clear from the start about their fees and so there should be no hidden fees later down the line. They should also make sure clients understand all the aspects of their application, for instance eligibility requirements and keeping to a time limit for the most streamline application process.
But most importantly trusted lawyers get successful results for their client which is great assurance for you!
Fourth Reason: Extensive Expertise
The fourth reason why you should use trusted immigration lawyers is because of their extensive experience with all aspects of British immigration law.
They will have the most up to date knowledge of any changes to this area of the law and certain routes which other solicitors do not have.
They will also have expertise on how the Home Office scrutinises applications and what things they are looking for. Therefore, including certain key evidence could change the success of your application and so knowing this is key.
Finally, especially if you have a complex case that involves appeals to an immigration tribunal a trusted solicitor in that area will be able to handle the preparation of evidence bundles and court representation.
Fifth Reason: Time Management
The fifth reason why you should use trusted immigration lawyers is because of their time management. Their ability to explain your application and its time constraints but also ensure that everything is kept to these deadlines is imperative for evidence bundle submission.
When looking to hire a trusted immigration lawyer consider the three methods below:
- Online reviews:
Online reviews are one of the best ways to figure out if an immigration lawyers is trusted. There are many reviewing platforms which allow previous customers to rate advisors and rate them out of five stars. For instance, browse Henleaze Law’s rating on Google Reviews and Trustindex: https://www.trustindex.io/reviews/henleazelaw.co.uk. As a team we have achieved the full five out of five stars across these platforms.
Within each review you will be able to read about what previous clients have applied for and in some cases, this may be the same application as you are wishing to make. Grasp their experience and success rate quickly. In some cases, they may even recommend members of the team which they worked with and were suitably impressed by.
- Word of mouth:
Word of mouth from friends, family, neighbours, or work colleagues are an extremely important way to grasp how trusted an immigration advisor in Bristol is. The benefit to this method is that you are hearing first hand someone who you trust experience.
- Professional standards:
Finally, it is important when judging on trustworthiness that professional standards are met by the immigration advisor. As discussed above they should be accredited by the OISC (Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner). Follow this link to the OISC website: home.oisc.gov.uk/adviser_finder/finder.aspx where you can type in any immigration advisor in Bristol and see if they are registered.
For instance, Henleaze Law’s registration number is F201900071.
How to locate a trusted lawyer in your area?
Locating a trusted lawyer in your area starts with using your internet browser or by word of mouth to select a handful of law firms in your area. On the internet you can see the distance the firms are away from your home address and the varying modes of transport you can take to visit them in person.
Once you have selected lawyer firms which are closest to your location, you can further research into whether they are trusted. This is by using the methods discussed above, which includes but is not limited to, reading google reviews. This will give an accurate indication of the level of service they provide and whether their team is compiled of trusted individuals. In some reviews, specific names of lawyers are used, and many clients will discuss how positive their experience was under their guidance.
FAQs about ‘Nigerian Immigration Lawyer Near Me’
Why does the nationality of my lawyer make no difference?
The nationality your lawyer makes no difference to the success of your application. It is how trusted and the expertise they have in the field of immigration law which is key.
How do I know that a lawyer is trusted?
You will know that a Bristol lawyer is trusted by following the tips above and importantly reading online reviews or hearing reviews from friends or colleagues. However, also ensure that beyond this they are trusted professionally which can be ensured by searching for whether they are accredited by the SRA.
Will my case be successful with a trusted lawyer?
This is highly dependable as the UKVI makes the final decision on your application which a lawyer no matter how trusted has no control over. But by ensuring that the advisor you are entrusting is experienced by doing your research online and reading reviews. Their legal advice and expertise have various benefits, such as minimising the risk of rejection and therefore increasing your chances of success compared to acting independently.
Should I be worried if the lawyer has some bad reviews from previous customers?
It depends how many bad reviews they receive and if they are followed up with an explanation. Firstly, the immigration law firm should on average have a high number of stars and so if they rank very poorly with customers this will reflect in the stars they receive. This suggests the firm may not have the best success rate with their customers. However, be wary as nowadays some of the reviews may be fake and so verify them by reading the short caption explaining why a certain previous customer has rated the firm poorly.
What is professional accreditation?
This is assigned to companies showing that they have been approved by a professional body and so the service they provide is trusted and reliable.
Is the information that I share with my lawyer private and confidential?
Definitely. This is one of the pillars of ethical legal practice and will be practised by all well respected and trusted immigration advisor. Those registered by the SRA must abide by this practice otherwise they risk losing their registration.
Can all immigration lawyers in Bristol help with visa applications?
Yes, immigration lawyers will help you with these applications, such as Spouse, Skilled worker, and other visas. They can advise you on what evidence to provide for the strongest application, as well as handling the application process on behalf of you.
What types of applications can immigration lawyers help me with?
Immigration lawyers can help you with many different types of applications. These include varying types of visas, such as UK Skilled Worker visas or Spouse visas. They will assess your eligibility and give advice on which visa is best suited for your needs. Lawyers will also take over the application process for you, simplifying it and helping you complete it.
However, there are many other applications other than visas which they can help with, such as applications for British citizenship, work permits, appeals and seeking asylum in the UK.
Summary
In this blog readers have gained an understanding into why a lawyer’s ethnicity or background is not important but rather their trustworthiness and competence.
Please contact our expert team of immigration lawyers at Henleaze Law on 0117 908 4625 for legal assistance with various British immigration applications, appeals or asylum queries. We will tailor our advice to you and ensure a quick and successful process.
