Lawyers Suck

[jdwhite21]

So I definitely don't think immigration lawyers are worth the money they get paid, well at least mine isn't anyways.
Our application was sent in at the beginning of February so today I decided to see if I could log into e-cas to see if there was anything. (I phoned the lawyer's office to get the receipt number) Anyways, I see on there that they started processing our application on the 4th of March but it was sent back... I phoned the lawyers office, and my lawyer wasn't there so I talked to his assistant. They received the letter last week and I guess didn't feel it important to tell me that they missed some papers. How frustrating, to pay them so much money and be back to square one essentially. Considering my husband's office is one of the slowest already any added delays are beyond heart breaking.
This lawyer had so many mistakes on our application papers. And he should have had it filed back in January however he was sending correspondence to the wrong e-mail... he tried to be rude about this too and told me smugly what my e-mail was and than I sadly had to correct him. And here we thought a lawyer would do better than I did, apparently not.

Okay so there's my rant. Hope everyone elses cases are getting done super fast and if you are not together now you will be together soon!

[waitingintz]

Sorry about your crummy lawyer. Does seem to happen quite often.

I think the problem is that people hand over the whole process to the lawyer and trust that it will all get done perfectly for them.  The only person to suffer when it's not done correctly is you. So if you're going to use a lawyer, make sure you take an active role in the process. Do your own research on what's needed and ask the lawyer to see the completed application before they submit.  If a lawyer won't allow you to take an active role in the process, you shouldn't hire them.  Look at hiring a lawyer as extra assistance and expertise, not instead of doing the work yourself. I know for the amount they charge they SHOULD be doing it all perfectly themselves but unfortunately that's not reality...

[doctorkb]

don't pay him if he's not doing his job.

[missmini]

good point...fire him and get another one or send everything urself!! or just go to them to consult and ask advise not to go through the whole process....

don't worry, 2011 has still many months more, hope ur family will be reunited until it ends

[GuateCanadian79]

I am sorry to hear that your lawyer has been less than diligent with your file.  I can understand why you would be upset that they were not forth coming with information about your file being returned.  They really should have told you file was returning but obviously were trying to cover up their mistake.

If you truly feel that the lawyer has not done his/her job, contact the Law Society of Upper Canada and submit a complaint.

You will find that many lawyers are very smug and don't like when people point out their errors. 

If you do not like your lawyer, find another one or an experienced immigration consultant.  Don't settle for someone who won't be honest or give you the time you need to have your questions answered.

Good luck!

[MexiCana]

That is really unfortunate. Lawyers are service providers, and you are paying dearly for that service. You are entitled to receive the service you paid for. Have you told him what you have told us here? You paid him to complete the forms correctly, he didn't do so so your application is delayed, and he did not even tell you that the application was delayed. As a result of his error, you now have to wait longer, and may incur financial losses as well (if your expenses will be increased as a result of the delay). 

Most likely he charged a flat fee and you have already paid him, so firing him may be beside the point at this juncture. I wonder what would happen if you asked him for a discount? Most law societies also have a process for disputing your bill.

waitingintz, I take your point about being involved in the process and I agree with you. However, it should not be necessary. Lawyers are professionally obligated to represent their clients' interests and to do so vigorously. When they take the barristers and solicitors oath that is what they swear to do. It's disappointing when they don't do that, because it's probably the most important part of a lawyer's job.

[Karlshammar]

File a complaint with the college. His behavior seems to have clearly fallen below the standard of care you would expect.

[Material]

Hey everyone

Here is my personal experiance with lawyers :

I hired this lawyer back in August 2009 when I decide to sponsor my wife I was lost I didnt know anything about the process so I trusted this lawyer to help me out :

Here is what happened:  Our file was transfered to the local office without AIP due to lack of evidance (he didnt tell me what to include in our application to make it a strong one I thought that he had everything he needed for it)

The result was a year and a half of waiting for an interview !!!!!!!

About two months ago I started doing my own research thats when I found out that whats happining is not normal and that I should have had AIP more than 9 months ago ...In the mean time he never told to add new proof of our marriage to the app he never told me to send updates , in the request for an interview  they needed me to fill one of the forms again when I saw my old form I relized that there are a lot of mistakes on there one mistake was:

how many persons are included in this application for permenant residance (including yourself) ?

my wife was the only person applying but some how I put ZERO as an answer,my lawyer didnt tell me anything about it !!!!

On the interview request it clearly said to bring an interpreter if one is needed

When I asked my lawyer about bringing a certified one he said :

they will provide one you dont have to bring one

a couple of days ago he called for the first time in a year and a half to ask how we did at the interview (it was two days before the interview!!!) when I told hime the interview is in two days he said

Hahahahah I thought it was today !! the stupuid f*** has all my files all the requestes are mailed to him directly and he doesnt bother to put the date on his callender !!!

Oh and when ever I email to ask about my app he doesnt respond, Im lucky if he responds with the following:

Im in florida I will be back on the  bla bla bla

Im so pissed that I lost all this time by trusting him but I m very thankful I found this site as it woke me up from a comma , and Im glad I took things into my own hands.

Always know what your doing read the manuals, know all the details to the processeven if you decide to hire a lawyer.

Sorry again if I ofended any1 with my language

Thanks!!

[Karlshammar]

You should also file a formal complaint with the college. The reason representatives get away with acting like idiots is that people don't file complaints and they know it.

[rjessome]

Oh GEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEZ!  These stories are AWFUL!    And I'll bet you chose a lawyer over a consultant because you thought you would be better represented.  So sorry for you.

I agree with Karlshammer that you should lodge a complaint.  However, it is not with the college.  It is with the provincial law society for the province where they practice.  In the case of making complaints against immigration consultant, you go through the national regulatory body, the Canadian Society of Immigration Consultants.

Note to others thinking of hiring a lawyer or consultant.  GET REFERENCES!

[Inlandappl]

all these stories reinforce the idea that is much better to go  on our own. at least if we make some mistakes it's our fault and we didn't have to pay extra money unncecessarily. i sent application months ago on my own and so far it hasn't been returned to me so i guess i can do better than some lawyers. and with the knowledge that i have now that i ve discovered this forum i could become a good immigration consultant...LOL

[Material]

Oh GEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEZ!  These stories are AWFUL!    And I'll bet you chose a lawyer over a consultant because you thought you would be better represented.  So sorry for you.

I agree with Karlshammer that you should lodge a complaint.  However, it is not with the college.  It is with the provincial law society for the province where they practice.  In the case of making complaints against immigration consultant, you go through the national regulatory body, the Canadian Society of Immigration Consultants.

Note to others thinking of hiring a lawyer or consultant.  GET REFERENCES!

To be honest at the time I didnt know there were lawyers and consultants, I was refererd to this lawyer by a friend.....what happens if some1 files a complaint?

[rjessome]

To be honest at the time I didnt know there were lawyers and consultants, I was refererd to this lawyer by a friend.....what happens if some1 files a complaint?

The Law Society investigates and decides whether or not any wrong doing, negligence or fraud occurred and what type of penalty and/or disciplinary action is appropriate if the lawyer was found to be at fault.  It can range from somewhat minor (fines) to very serious (disbarment, criminal charges).  If fault is found, it ALWAYS leads to some embarrassment for the lawyer at least amongst their peers because their name, offence and penalty is published by the Society.

[saifsmarty]

So I definitely don't think immigration lawyers are worth the money they get paid, well at least mine isn't anyways.
Our application was sent in at the beginning of February so today I decided to see if I could log into e-cas to see if there was anything. (I phoned the lawyer's office to get the receipt number) Anyways, I see on there that they started processing our application on the 4th of March but it was sent back... I phoned the lawyers office, and my lawyer wasn't there so I talked to his assistant. They received the letter last week and I guess didn't feel it important to tell me that they missed some papers. How frustrating, to pay them so much money and be back to square one essentially. Considering my husband's office is one of the slowest already any added delays are beyond heart breaking.
This lawyer had so many mistakes on our application papers. And he should have had it filed back in January however he was sending correspondence to the wrong e-mail... he tried to be rude about this too and told me smugly what my e-mail was and than I sadly had to correct him. And here we thought a lawyer would do better than I did, apparently not.

Okay so there's my rant. Hope everyone elses cases are getting done super fast and if you are not together now you will be together soon!

i'm agreed and have a similar experience with lawyers and even with the present one even they r one famous firm in toronto. my pr application is in process for 40 months and in start my lawyer said the firm will take care and will follow up care fully with my file at islamabad embassy .BUT very imp thing to point out is ,.. my case is in last stages and his assitant has not corrected my home adres of islamabad yet "even i notified her so many times,she said ok but all was and is same".and coz of it the mail can be delivered in another place and my waiting of years can be more lengthy ... also in start lawyer was showing so much efficency but once he got our case and a handsome fee of 4000 $ , he only helped me to fill application and sent my case from canada to islamabad "after mississauga immigration offices approval" and after then i'm waiting and waiting up till now ,whenever i ask him to do something and find if there is some prob with my case and why its taking so much time ... he simply says ... be patient and ' im done mu duty and if u want more then pay more'.. duhhhh . in fact they dont deserve these feeses of our hard earned money and they really know to screw u up instead to help u get out of truble . thats my experience and im changed 3 lawyer nd all were claiming of well imaged but after hiring all were same . WHERE AND HOW TO FIND A GOOD,DISCIPLAINED, SINCERE LAWYER ...?? DOES ANYONE KNOW ANY SINGLE GOOD LAWYER i dont c ... 

[serenifly]

why would you need a lawyer for these docs? I got the paperwork, and wondered why anyone would get a lawyer ?

Is there any reason ?