Q. Why does it benefit me to be represented by an Australian immigration lawyer?
A. It’s useful to be aware of some of the more noticeable distinctions between Australian Lawyers practicing immigration law and Non-Lawyer Migration Agents.
- Australian immigration lawyers are subject to a much higher degree of regulation and supervision than Australian Migration Agents. This system of multi-regulation applying to Australian Lawyers helps to ensure that the level of professionalism, knowledge and quality of service offered by Australian Immigration Lawyers is generally of a very high standard.
- Experienced Australian immigration lawyers are also much more highly trained and knowledgeable about Australian law than non-lawyer Migration Agents. Migration Agents are qualified to advise on immigration matters after only six months of training while lawyers must complete a University Law Degree and then a further year of practical law training.
- Due to their extensive legal training, an Australian immigration lawyer may also be able to advise you about other areas of law which may affect your case or your residency in Australia, such as Family Law, Tax Law or Employment Law. Non-lawyer Migration Agents do not have the qualifications or experience to help in other areas of law connected to your immigration matter.
- An Australian immigration lawyer is empowered by law to represent you in all Australian courts, whereas Non - Lawyer Migration Agents are not able to legally represent you in an Australian Court. Retaining the services of a Lawyer - Agent means that you can be confident of their ability to represent you from the beginning of the application process right through to its conclusion. In the event that you need to lodge an appeal with the courts, and you have engaged the services of a Lawyer - Agent at the beginning of the application process, you will be able to retain their services in your appeal to the courts. If, however, have engaged the services of a Non-lawyer Migration Agent, you will be put to additional cost and inconvenience of hiring a new a Lawyer to represent you before the courts.
- Clients of Lawyers in Australia can make a claim against the Legal Practitioners Fidelity Fund for monetary compensation if they have suffered financial loss caused by the dishonesty and or negligence of their Lawyer.
- Your communications with an Australian immigration lawyer will remain private because of the protection Legal Professional Privilege gives them. The clients of Non - Lawyer Migration Agents are not permitted to claim that their communications are protected from disclosure by Legal Professional Privilege.
- Self prepared visa applications often fail because Applicants don't possess the legal knowledge and experience in dealing with the processes and requirements of the Department of Immigration and Citizenship and / or Australian Immigration Tribunals and Courts.
