Here in NC my husband has called 3 lawyers and they are all charging for just a consultation. My husband has been a legal resident for 19 years, no tickets, problems with the law and we have 2 children. Thank you for your help. Cat.
Here in NC my husband has called 3 lawyers and they are all charging for just a consultation. My husband has been a legal resident for 19 years, no tickets, problems with the law and we have 2 children. Thank you for your help. Cat.
Yes, private attorneys get to charge for their time, including consultations.
Before obtaining a consultation, you should inquire if it is free. If it is free, how much time are you allocated, without charge? IE.. First 1/2 hour free, then $XX p/hour. Third, is only the lawyers time factored into the free period, or does it also include time spent by staff on the issue. IE scheduling, phone info etc... For a phone consult, utilize a cell phone to track minutes.
Call your local bar association. Some attorneys offer a free consultation. Of course, he/she may not be a specialist in the area of the law pertaining to your situation.
Some social service agencies offer assistance with immigration issues with a fee scale based on income.
If your husband has no problems in his background and is a legal resident, what problem does he need assistance with? If it is just naturalization paperwork and procedure, there are complete directions on the USCIS website.
Of course it's legal for a legal professional to charge for his time. Free consultations are a courtesy, not a requirement. The heavier an attorney's case load, the more likely the attorney will be to charge a consultation fee.
You can find lawyers with consultation fees ranging from free to $50 by using the State Bar's Find a Lawyer program.