Immigration Lawyers are Hard to Find

It's not easy for an immigrant who needs a lawyer to find one. Although several programs seek to provide legal help, the best answer would be a public defender system equivalent to what is in place for criminal defendants, immigrant advocates say.

But that doesn't appear likely to happen in the foreseeable future, and it is difficult or impossible for most immigrants to represent themselves appropriately in this complex legal arena, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Meanwhile, a patchwork of efforts by nonprofits and lawyers working at reduced fees seeks to fill some of the gaps. Those who are young may soon have an edge in the competition for counsel: "Actress Angelina Jolie, Microsoft Corp. and other businesses are kicking off a nationwide project to ensure free lawyers for children in immigration court," the newspaper reports.