I’ve trained 170 clinicians in the last two years via webinar on how to do Immigration Psychological Evaluations. Go HERE for information or to be notified of the next training. I’m also offering free monthly online consultation for attendees who want to move forward to do pro bono cases for lawyers of refugees seeking asylum. To participate in the online consult group meeting monthly go here. There is no need to have been trained by me and there is no charge.
For 20 years I’ve done expert witness forensic psychological report writing and I’ve testified 70 times in court for immigrants seeking asylum in U.S. Immigration courts. I worked with the Program For Torture Victims, Los Angeles from 1998 to 2002 helping victims of government torture and discrimination by doing a good psychological evaluation and testimony in immigration asylum court, that helps to enhance their credibility. In addition to helping asylum clients who have been tortured, I’ve done many cases of government failure to protect or discrimination and VAWA (Violence Against Women Act) cases. I’ve done discrimination and government failure to protect cases involving persecution and discrimnation against homosexuals, christians, women, molested children, honor killing cases, and political opponents of government ruling powers.
About 28 of these cases were assessments of the client for cases being filed under VAWA (Violence Against Women Act). Four of those VAWA cases were for men. Most of these clients were seeking a suspension of deportation.
Those 28 cases did not require my testimony, as they are filed with the Vermont Immigration Office.
My psychological assessment interview and report is often used to assist the attorney in establishing credibility for the applicant in respect to whether the person did indeed suffer from domestic abuse, or torture or discrimination. I am familiar with the requirements of meeting the needs of the legal statute. Because of my 30 years of domestic violence clinical experience, I have good credentials to make the case convincingly that the abuse occurred as the client’s declaration indicates it did. I am usually referred these cases by the client’s lawyer or by Los Angeles Public Counsel.
Rate per hour is $200.- On average I can finish an asylum case within 8-11 hours total; consisting of interviews, writing and consultation with lawyers. Some cases can be handled at negotiated rates. It usually takes about a four to six weeks to find the clinical time in my schedule to interview the client, and to complete the psychological evaluation. My experience with detained clients is that I’ll devote a whole Sunday to the interviews. So, including travel, I have a day rate of $1850.
Expediting Fee- If the client has a merits hearing substantially less than one month from the date of contacting me, there is a surcharge for expediting the interviewing and writing of the report. It is a negotiated extra fee for changing my own patient load; expediting my schedule and working nights, weekends and overtime to make it happen. The expediting fee is negotiable but is generally in the range of 10% – 30% extra.
Immigration Attorneys & Firms I’ve worked with for Asylum Cases:
Public Counsel Los Angeles 213-385-2977 Katka Weth Atty at Law
Alan Matkins 213-955-5604, Alyssa Engstrom, Atty at Law
Holland & Knight 213.896.2532, Janet Chung, Atty at Law
Jim Angleton, Atty at Law 213-689-9480
Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher 213-229-7842 Kelly Welch, Azar Mouzari
Morrison, Foester 858-314-7630 Nathan Cooper Atty at Law
Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher 213-229-7910 Minae Yu
Morrison, Foerester 213-892-5200 Hui Lin Wang / Johanna
Shehee
Manatt & Phelps 213-312-4336 Sirena Castillo
O’Melveney & Myers 213-430-6151 Chi
Paul Hastings, 213-683-6293 James Gilliam, Atty at Law
Latham, Watkins 714-540-1235 Christopher Campbell
Joseph Sandoval, Atty at Law 323-297-1102
Gittel Gordon, Atty at Law 858-459-2450, 858-459-2410,
Kenneth Goodsell, Atty at Law 626-403-3588
Kelley Drye & Warren 310-712-6100 David Fink, Atty at Law
Gibson Dunn- Ryan Appletree 213-229-7353
Gibson Dun- Kari Krusmark 213-229-7353
Steve Papazian Atty at Law 310-627-2276
Steve Landel Esq. 310-395-2828
Several VAWA cases I worked with were on behalf of male victims.
Sergei Shevchenko, Atty at Law 310-285-1552
Judith Foster, Atty at Law 818- 996-1858
Sandra Ronald, Atty at Law 818 225-1861
Raquel Fonte, Atty at Law 213 385-7800 x140
Alexandru Cristea, Atty at Law 562-923-5650
Claire Cifuentes, Atty at Law 213 365-6066
Judith Wood, Atty at Law 213 680-7801
Kathy Alfred, Atty at Law 818 654-0480
Connie Frentzos, Atty at Law 323 257-4801
Bernie Wolfsdorf, Esq. 310-573-4242
Cheryl Woodward, Atty at Law 310-450-2003
Garish Sarin, Atty at Law 213-353-9309
Richard Fraade, Atty at Law 310-274-8847
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