Clark Hill – Washington, D.C.

Terrible, we felt scammed. They kept asking us the same thing every so often, even though we had already given the answer; they asked us for basic documents we were supposed to submit at the beginning, but they requested them MONTHS later. Terrible, terrible. 0/5 actually

I retained this immigration law firm for over two years while waiting for my asylum court date. During this time, no court sessions were held, and there was no formal legal action like preparing me for court, presenting evidence, or even representing me in hearings. I was essentially in a procedural holding pattern—just waiting. Despite this, the firm charged me approximately $9,000 for limited, mostly administrative tasks such as renewing my work permit or collecting documents that had already been submitted to the court.While the invoice descriptions were written to appear detailed and professional, the actual work done was often minimal.

For example, a one-line email or a brief online check was billed as though it involved substantial legal analysis.

A friend of mine who was also working with the same firm during his court preparation shared that he was even billed for things like "Googling" information—charged in 10–15-minute blocks. This level of micromanaged billing is questionable and difficult for any client to verify. How can a client know whether a Google search took 5 minutes or 15?

Later, when I switched to a new law firm, the difference was clear. They told me upfront: “If you can provide these specific documents and information from the start, we won’t waste time (or charge you) for researching what you already know.” That’s how it should be—collaborative, transparent, and respectful of the client’s time and money. The previous firm, however, seemed to prefer inefficiency, where vague and untraceable tasks conveniently filled up the invoice.

When I raised concerns about billing with this firm they took over a week to respond, and instead of addressing my concerns directly, they turned defensive and manipulative. I was told “you are not ready”—a tactic clearly aimed at undermining my confidence and shifting the blame. The tone quickly became aggressive and unprofessional, which made it clear that transparency was never part of their process.

Thankfully, I eventually won my case with the new law firm—a team that treated me with respect, communicated openly, and billed fairly.

To anyone considering this original firm, I advise you to ask very specific questions about how time is tracked, what tasks are billed, and whether you’ll have clarity throughout the process. A law firm should work with you, not around you

Beautiful building and staff