Looking for reliable DR legal recommendations

This is a general comment that is not limited to any specific lawyer or even to the Dominican Republic: the communication issue you've described is real, and common (not just in the DR). IMO you're absolutely right to judge based on it, as what you experience during your initial encounter is likely to be as good as it gets.

One issue is that dealing with a lawyer directly can be very different from dealing with her/his support staff. (Lawyers are not helpless or clueless; they are educated, cosmopolitan people and how they manage their staff is a choice over which they have full control.)

Advice I've seen (which I wholeheartedly second) is to ask carefully during your initial encounter -- I know in your case you're struggling to even get to that point, but keep this in mind for when you do! -- is WHO will be handling your case, what THEIR qualifications are, whether there is a backup contact in case they [insert polite euphemism here] ghost you, and WHAT TURNAROUND TIME the firm is willing to commit to in answering your queries.

Even if you get all that nailed down in writing, it's no guarantee you'll actually get it in practice, but it's a step in the right direction. Don't assume that things will get *better* after your honeymoon period; they're more likely to stay the same or get worse.

I think it's incredibly hard to find a good lawyer and sadly, there doesn't seem to be a way to take the risk out of it. I'd scour all the social media you can find for *recent* recommendations and reviews, but take them with a grain of salt. I think a lot comes down to HOW potential lawyers answer your queries (timely? thorough? specific?) as much as WHAT their answers say.

I eventually left the DR (despite its many excellent qualities, God bless it), and while bad comms with my lawyer's office were not a deal-breaker, the prospect of dealing with them again at renewal (or going through the whole nightmare lawyer search again) was definitely a factor.

^^ This is not much help in finding you a specific lawyer, but I hope it will at least offer a reality/sanity check and some general advice. You do need to stay on your toes throughout the process; I hope you find someone soon to stay on your toes WITH😄.

If it's this hard for us who've got a few bucks in our pocket and some kind of worldly education, imagine what it's like for more desperation-level immigrants. I can't even begin to guess what that's like.

Wish I had something more concrete to offer but hope this at least adds some perspective. HEARTFELT GOOD-LUCK WISHES!

@wondering9

Thank you for your answer,it's really good.It is a tough position,and with Lishali she answered relatively quickly,she was medical leave and answered when she came back and we were scheduled for a call,but it never came and even no response to my inquiries about a reschedule(and since then it has been almost a week). So I don't know what happened there,SHE was the one that answered not her staff so that's why it "hurt" a bit.

I am completely lost whom to write since so far this has been the third bad encounter and your comment is what I am currently realizing is going on. I will browse online for others but as you said,I will take everything with a grain of salt.

I didn't expect that it's going to be this kind of a hassle to find a lawyer,I didn't expect it to be smooth but everything so far is bad and going worse.

However it won't stop me for looking for other lawyer but your comment about asking who will be dealing my case is GOLD and I will use if I get an actual call,so far the initial email conversation is the limit,at first I thought I made mistakes but no they just don't keep their part of deal.

My experience with Lishali has been positive so far. At first it was hard to get in touch, as I had different contact addresses, and then there was a national holiday so she was out of the office for awhile. It might have been Semana Santa, Easter week, so it was a whole week.  But when she did get back to me, we set up a time for a call, and she was right there on time. She answered my questions, and gave me really good information that I would have missed had I tried going it alone. Mainly she directed me to a different type of Residencia than I had planned, so it works out better for me.  I am probably going to wait to start the process until I have lived in the DR for about 6 months, then I'll begin submitting the documents when I return to the US next summer. 

I reached out to her office recently to ask about the fees and they were quick to respond, so that was helpful, too.  I chose Lishali because of all the positive recommendations I've heard about her here on expat.com and also in FB groups. 

I understand the frustration of working with any kind of services in the DR that don't meet our standards of quick responses, or even worse. I feel like if I can trust the person's character, then I can be a little more patient with the smaller frustrations that come with living on the island.

I will likely be back to report on the progress of getting my visa/temporary residence and beyond. 

Jennifer

@nbaltic99

Unfortunately and maybe not something you want hear. However, and also why everyone recommends living here for 3 to 6 months to experience the DR life and economy. Nothing here happens fast and we have to remember the TOP attorneys have a large client base and it may take 6 to 12 days for responses. I hope it goes better for you...Best of Luck

@Jennifer Storm Nelson

Hi Jennifer, thank you so much for sharing your experience Trying to organize everything remotely from abroad makes the silence feel extra stressful, especially when trying to align administrative timelines. Knowing that she comes through with solid, trustworthy advice once you get on a call makes the wait much easier to digest.I will maybe contact her one more time but after the no-call and no reply on my email I am not sure aynmore. Appreciate the reassurance, and best of luck with your residency process next summer!

@CHRISTOPHER DAVID56

Thanks for the advice. I can understand they have a lot of clients but not calling when you said you were and not replying to my rescheduling email is what me uncertain,I don't mind waiting but I don't like the ghosting even an automated message would be enough.The thing is if I get an offer having an attorney that will do everything when they say the are is what I need,if documents and thing start running late I risk my employment and face dragging the visa process longer than needed.

@nbaltic99

I understand and agree. Unfortunately,  after 24 years here off and on and now permanent, it's not uncommon in all sectors of business in the DR for a host of reasons.