Law Office of Christine M. Stouffer

Knowledgeable Multilingual Attorney

This lawyer is licensed to practice in California and has no record of discipline from the California bar association.*

Firm Overview

My firm's focus is 100% immigration law and I am personally involved in all aspects of your case. My focus is client-centered lawyering and I feel it is important to stay connected with both the immigrants' rights community and fellow immigration practitioners to share resources and knowledge.

My firm was founded in 2005 and I share an office suite with attorneys whose combined immigration experience spans well over 50 years.

Example cases

I regularly work with family-based applications, asylum, deportation defense cases in immigration court, and district court cases and appeals.

Main Office

Main
2000 Hearst Ave.
Suite 401
Berkeley CA 94709

Phone

(510) 540-4149

Fax

(510) 849-0749

Websites

http://www.stoufferlaw.com

Fees

Free Initial Consultation?

I will be happy to spend some time initially talking on the phone free of charge.

Services Offered For Fixed Fees?

The vast majority of my fees are at a fixed rate. I sometimes charge an hourly rate for certain cases when it may be hard to determine the amount of time I will spend on your case.

Hourly Rates

My hourly rate is $225, though my preference is to charge a flat fee rather than an hourly rate. I hold a percentage of my caseload open on a low fee basis.

Office Information

Office Hours

Monday through Friday
10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Some evenings and weekend appointments available.

Office Manager

None

Emergency After Hours

Yes

Languages Spoken

French, Spanish and Arabic. Tigrinya available in office.

How did your firm decide on the primary area of practice(s)?

My mother is an immigrant in the United States and I have been an immigrant abroad. For these reasons, it means a lot to me to give back to the immigrant community.

What is your firm's point of view regarding clients educating themselves on legal issues?

I strongly believe in clients having all the information they need to make a well-informed decision. It is important that clients know and understand their rights in terms of the law. On the other hand, immigration law is constantly changing and when it comes to filing an application, there can be many nuanced issues that are best analyzed by an immigration lawyer.

Is your firm willing to review documents prepared by clients?

This is appropriate for certain types of cases, though I do not believe it is for others. When I review your documents, to a large degree I assume responsibility for your case. For this reason, if the case is more involved or complex, I prefer to fully represent you.

Is your firm willing to coach clients who want to represent themselves?

My answer to this question is more or less the same as above.

Christine Stouffer

My previous immigration-related work experience was with several immigration practitioners, non-profit organizations and firms in the Bay Area.

I have a variety of experiences in several different careers. Over the years, I have traveled extensively and spent time living abroad in Morocco and France. Having had the chance to interact with many different types of people is an asset to practicing law as is knowing how to manage pressure filled situations with grace.

I am quite personable without compromising professionalism.

Personal interests:

My personal interests include meals with family and friends, traveling, music, learning languages, cinema, reading, martial arts, and yoga.

License

Bar Number: 239798
California , 2005

Education

Golden Gate University School of Law
J.D. , 2005
San Francisco, CA
Honors Lawyering Program, Immigration Law Focus, Public Interest Law Foundation
University of Washington
B.A. , 1998
Seattle, WA
Middle Eastern Studies

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