Criminal Defense of Immigrants

(C)  Make sure you and the client can communicate clearly.  Verify that your interpreter, if you are using one, speaks not only the same language but also the same dialect as the client.  See § 3.8, infra.  Make sure the client understands the importance of telling you the truth about the immigration status.  Make sure you and the client mean the same thing by any technical terms, such as “citizen,”[11] that you use.

[11] Many immigrants, who have received their Lawful Permanent Resident status, or “green cards,” will summarize their immigration status by saying they are “citizens.”  It is important to make sure they know the critical distinction between lawful resident and U.S. citizen is and why you are asking.