Legal News

Immigrants seeking legal status struggle with bad lawyers and notaries

By Jason Siegel

Many undocumented immigrants that attempt to legalize their status are victimized by unqualified or dishonest lawyers and notaries, KPCC Public Radio reported yesterday. (LISTEN)

On the other end are lawyers who say they are worried about scared that unsatisfied clients will sue them for ineffective representation if they lose in court, Los Angeles immigration attorney Gloria S. Weil-Herrera told KPCC.

But the big problem is lawyers, John Ayala, the head of the American Immigration Lawyers Association's Southern California Chapter, told KPCC.

"Most client generated lawsuits have ended disciplinary action or disbarment for unscrupulous attorneys," said Ayala. Lawyers are the ones who take too many cases and then miss filing deadlines, he said.

Another problem Ayala pointed to is notaries who fill in legal documents and give legal advice without proper licenses or expertise.

Yesterday, L.A. Legal Pad posted about the State Bar of California and the L.A. County District Attorney?s Office shutting down a Montebello company accused of providing immigration legal services without a law license.

Full post as published by Legal Pad | LA on May 01, 2008 (boomark / email).