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

  • Removal of Conditions

  • 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 5-7 business days following the second interview

  • Rush Evaluation - $1500 (Standard evaluation + $500)

    • One (1) virtual, clinical interview for approximately 2.5 hours with completion of assessments

      • Interviews that include interpretation are 3 hours to account for interpretation time

    • Report completed in less than 5 business days following the interview

  • Payment plans are available for standard evaluations, upon request, following an initial deposit of $160. Clients may divide the cost into 2 payments ($420 each) or 3 payments ($280 each) 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

4

Report
Writing

2

Submit
Referral Form

5

Request for Feedback

3

Complete Evaluation

6

Report
Finalization

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Process & Logistics

  • I am only licensed to provide services in Virginia and Florida at this time. I am hoping to open up to additional states by the end of 2025.

  • Hardship waivers, asylum, U/T-visas, VAWA, Cancellation of Removal. If you have another case where a mental health evaluation may strengthen the case, please reach out for consultation.

  • I work with both minors and adults.

  • Yes, 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, as long as the individual is able to meet virtually.

  • 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 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 translator will increase the time requirement slightly to account for translation time.

  • I complete reports within 5-7 business days following the last interview for standard evaluations and less than 5 business days following the interview for rush evaluations.

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 required 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.

  • Yes. A draft review is provided for clarity and completeness before finalization. This ensures the report aligns with legal arguments and addresses all relevant elements. Adjustments may be made for clarity only; factual findings, clinical conclusions, and diagnoses cannot be changed.

  • No.

Fees & Payment

  • The standard fee is $1,000. Rush evaluations incur an additional $500, for a total of $1,500.

  • For standard evaluations, payment plans are available upon request after a $160 deposit. Clients may divide the cost into two payments of $420 or three payments of $280, 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.

  • Yes. 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.

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.

  • No assumptions are made about intelligence. 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.

Attorney Resource Library

Making a Referral

Report Writing and Collaboration

  • Quality and Credibility Practices

  • Report Review and Collaboration Protocol

  • FAQ Sheet: Working with a Forensic Mental Health Evaluator

  • Report Anatomy: How to Read a Mental Health Evaluation

Expert Resources

  • Common Psychological Conditions in Immigration Cases

  • Country Conditions and Mental Health Impact Examples

  • Case Strategy Tip Sheets

    • Documenting trauma without police reports

    • Strengthening credibility in asylum cases

    • Working with children in hardship cases

    • Cultural competence in immigration cases

    • Common red flags in immigration mental health cases

    • Child impact evaluation guide

  • Special Situations

    • Clients in Ongoing Treatment

Strengthen Your Case:
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Inquiries or Special Requests