Legal Advocate Resource Hub
A Note from
Jocelyn Cooper, LPC:
I’m Jocelyn Cooper, a licensed therapist with extensive experience conducting immigration mental health evaluations that hold up in court and speak directly to the lived experiences of your clients. This portal is exclusively for attorneys, paralegals, and legal advocates who want to give their clients every possible advantage in immigration proceedings. It’s designed to make your work easier and your cases stronger - you’ll find tools, checklists, and reference materials that streamline the referral process, prepare your clients for evaluation, and help you integrate my reports seamlessly into your legal strategy.
A Snapshot of Services
Cases We Support
Clinical Evaluations
Payment Information
Hardship Waivers
VAWA
Political Asylum
U/T-Visas
Have another referral where a mental health evaluation may strengthen the case? Please reach out for consultation.
Standard Evaluation - $1000
Two (2) virtual, clinical interviews for approximately 60 minutes each time, totaling 2 hours of direct assessment
Interviews that include an interpreter are 90 minutes each to account for interpretation time
Complete assessments between interviews
Report completed within 4 weeks following the second interview
Expedited Evaluation - $1300
Same as the Standard Evaluation, with a 2 week turnaround following the completion of the second interview
Rush Evaluation - $2000
One (1) virtual, clinical interview for approximately 120 minutes (2 hrs) and completion of assessments
Interviews that include an interpreter should plan to be available for 3 hrs to account for interpretation time.
Report completed within 72 hours of the interview
Payment plans are available for standard and expedited evaluations, upon request, following an initial deposit of $160. Clients may divide the cost into 2 payments or 3 payments with no interest. The report will not be released for review until the balance has been paid in full.
Health insurance does not cover mental health evaluations for immigration cases, and it is not best practice to use HSA/FSA funds.
The Evaluation Process
1
Initial Consultation &
Scheduling w/ Client
4
Complete Evaluation
2
5
Report Writing & Transmission to Client and Legal Representation
3
Contact Legal Representation & Other Collateral Sources
Report Revisions, if applicable
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Process & Logistics
-
I am only licensed to provide services in Virginia (#0701009417) and Florida (#TPMC2446) at this time. I am hoping to open up to additional states in the near future.
-
All evaluations are conducted virtually. If a client lives within the Hampton Roads area of Virginia, in person evaluations at the client’s lawyer’s office may be available at an additional cost. Please contact me for availability.
-
Yes, language support is available at no additional cost.
-
Yes!
-
The referral process begins with a client reaching out via the website contact form or by phone. A brief initial consultation is completed and interviews scheduled. Most evaluations are able to be scheduled within one (1) week.
Legal teams are free to use the referral link, however the client must reach out to me directly for services to begin.
-
With standard and expedited evaluations, I meet with the client twice, totaling 2 hours of assessment time. For rush evaluations, I meet with the client once for 2.5 hours of assessment time. The inclusion of a interpreter will increase the time requirement slightly to account for translation time.
-
Standard Evaluations - 4 weeks
Expedited Evaluations - 2 weeks
Rush - 72 hours
Report Content
-
Each report addresses personal and family background, medical/psychiatric history, current mental health state, any hardship factors, diagnosis (if appropriate), professional recommendations for support, and a review of any related scientific research and literature (if appropriate).
-
Yes, any legal questions should be addressed during the consultation and before the first interview.
-
A relevant DSM-5 diagnosis is included when appropriate. In cases where a diagnosis is not warranted, results are discussed with the client, and next steps are decided collaboratively.
Collaboration with Legal Teams
-
The information gathered before starting the evaluation can make the difference between a “good” report and a case-strengthening, court-ready report. Download the Attorney Referral Checklist for a easy to reference list of beneficial information, then complete the Attorney Referral Form when you’re ready to make a full referral.
-
Referrals are best submitted through our Attorney Referral Form. Additional communication can be by phone or email. All communication methods are confidential.
-
Yes. These documents often strengthen reports and provide factual details that reinforce credibility - USCIS favors evaluations that integrate information from multiple sources rather than relying solely on self-report. Any discrepancies can be addressed and contextualized, supporting an objective report.
-
I try to connect with legal representation before the clinical interview to ensure all legal arguments are adequately addressed. If additional coordination is required following the clinical interview, please contact me as soon as possible. A final draft will be sent to both client and legal representation by the end of the promised turnaround time. Each report is entitled to 2 revisions in the 2 weeks following report submission; adjustments may be made for clarity only; factual findings, clinical conclusions, and diagnoses cannot be changed.
-
No, any communication is included in the evaluation packages.
Fees & Payment
-
For standard and expedited evaluations, payment plans are available upon request after a $320 deposit. Clients may divide the cost into 2 or 3 payments with no interest. Reports are not released until the balance is paid in full. Rush evaluations must be paid in full at the time of scheduling.
-
Law firms may pay directly via credit or debit card. The individual being evaluated remains the client, and payment from the law firm does not influence clinical judgment, findings, or recommendations. This does not create a dual client relationship. The evaluated individual must provide written consent before results are released to the law firm.
-
Legal aid and pro bono cases are accepted on a limited basis. Please contact to inquire about availability.
Court & Testimony
-
I do not provide court appearances at this time.
Special Circumstances & Complex Cases
-
Hesitation is common, especially when experiences are traumatic in nature.
A combination of empathy, trauma-informed interviewing, cultural humility, and alternative storytelling methods is used.
Clients may review their evaluation to ensure language is respectful.
Sessions can be shortened and spread across multiple meetings to reach the 2–2.5 hour evaluation time, and
Information may be supplemented with attorney input, corroborating documents, and observable symptoms.
-
Many clients have no prior mental health history or it was never adequately documented due to stigma, lack of access and education, or fear. The most important piece is connecting current symptoms and observations to the trauma or hardship. In the report, I clearly explain why there’s no history and focus on highlighting the consistency between my findings, the client’s narrative, and corroborating evidence.
-
Limitations are discussed directly, and assessment methods are adapted as needed. Reports document all accommodations and explain how changes maintained the accuracy and credibility of the evaluation, as USCIS expects this level of detail.
-
Yes! With appropriate ethical and procedural steps, this information often strengthens the case by providing additional objective evidence, demonstrating credibility, and showing help-seeking behavior.
-
Trauma-informed skills are used to assess distress, provide appropriate support, and determine whether to pause, modify, or reschedule the session.
-
An independent assessment can be provided, including a review of the prior report, relevant case materials, and a new clinical evaluation. The professional opinion may confirm or differ from prior findings, with possible reasons for differences clearly explained.