Opinion ID: 787177
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Contact with client

Text: 67 It is not clear even from counsel's declaration that she ever actually spoke to Lin about the substance of his case, nor is there any other evidence aside from her own declaration that she spoke to Lin at all. There is no evidence that she conducted any research specifically on Lin's claim or prepared him for his hearing. None of her behavior in the hearing contradicts Lin's stated hypothesis that her preparation for the hearing consisted of nothing more than reading over Lin's brief written statement to her shortly before the hearing began. Her assertion that she had sent the actual case and the money to Guajardo and her evident expectation that she would not be responsible for argument before the IJ strongly suggest that her contact with Lin was inadequate. Given the factual uncertainties over what degree of contact she did have with Lin and how much preparation she undertook, however, we do not base our finding of ineffectiveness entirely on this claim.