JOB TITLE: Immigration & Public Law Caseworker/Solicitor
LOCATION: Asylum Aid Office (London)
RESPONSIBLE TO: Public Law Supervisor
CONTRACT: Permanent, full time (37.5 hours)
SALARY: £34,000 p.a. to £38,000 p.a. (dependent on experience)
BENEFITS: 27 days holiday plus 4% matched pension contribution
START DATE: Immediately subject to references
For over thirty years, Asylum Aid has been providing legal representation to some of the most vulnerable people seeking asylum. We have built an expert service, delivering vital and life-saving services in some of the most complex legal cases, with a particular speciality in working with Survivors of trafficking, torture or other forms of human cruelty, unaccompanied minors and stateless people. Our vision is that all those in need of protection from persecution and other forms of human cruelty in the UK can obtain it, and are treated fairly and with dignity.
Asylum Aid fills a critical gap in support for people at risk of being returned to danger and violence overseas or languishing in the legal system, resulting in crisis and exploitation in the UK. We know that without the proper legal advice and representation, which require both time and care, people seeking protection in the UK can end up in limbo for years, causing them great pain and trauma, and leaving them vulnerable to exploitation and potentially being trafficked. At Asylum Aid, we provide specialist advice and end-to-end casework, which allows us to gain the insight and knowledge that are essential in putting the best case forward for our clients, so they are able to obtain legal protection and remain safe.
Since August 2020, Asylum Aid has been part of the Helen Bamber Foundation Group. Asylum Aid operates as an independent charity, led by its own Director within the group structure, and is ambitious about growing its impact and reach in the future to ensure protection from persecution for those who need it. The Helen Bamber Foundation is a pioneering Human Rights charity supporting refugees and asylum seekers who are survivors of trafficking and torture, including gender-based and ‘honour-based’ violence. Recognising the complexity of each client’s suffering and needs, the Foundation offers specialist services within a Model of Integrated Care encompassing: therapy; medical advice; legal protection; counter-trafficking support; housing & welfare advice; and community and integration.
The ideal candidate will be a solicitor, and IAAS accredited senior caseworker, with experience in immigration legal aid work and of running judicial review challenges, particularly in the immigration and asylum context.
As a Public Law fee earner, you will be responsible for managing a caseload of asylum, trafficking, human rights and related public law claims. This role offers the opportunity to develop experience in judicial review casework under the direction of the Public Law supervisor, delivering high-quality legal services on the full range of immigration and welfare issues that affect refugees, asylum seekers and survivors of trafficking and torture in the UK. Experience in working with victims of trafficking is highly desirable.
There will be scope within the role to contribute strategically to work relating to the treatment of refugees and asylum seekers both in terms of access to and quality of available legal representation and Home Office decision-making. At Asylum Aid, we seek to use public law to increase the impact of our work to the benefit of all those seeking protection in the UK.
The legal team at Asylum Aid is growing, and this is a good opportunity for a self-starter to influence the growth and development of the Public Law team and contribute to the wider strategic development of Asylum Aid.
As is the nature of this sector, the role will be exposed to a high volume of traumatic and distressing material, and, whilst they will be supported by the Public Law supervisor and surrounding team, they should also be able to demonstrate knowledge of good self-care principles in an intense work environment and dissemination of those principles to junior members of the team.
The Foundation and Asylum Aid are an equal opportunities and Living Wage employer. We are committed to attracting and recruiting diverse candidates as we are keen to make sure that our staff, trustees, volunteers and ambassadors reflect the communities we serve and the wider community we work in at every level within the organisation. We particularly welcome applications from those with BAME backgrounds and with lived experience of the UK immigration system.
- Qualified solicitor, barrister or OISC Level 3 caseworker
- At least two years experience of maintaining a caseload of complex asylum, immigration and human rights cases in line with OISC and LAA regulatory requirements;
- Senior Caseworker (Level 2) accreditation under the Immigration and Asylum Accreditation Scheme (IAAS);
- Experience in providing legal advice and representation on Judicial Review applications;
- Understanding of the pre-action protocol and relevant CPR applicable to judicial review work;
- Experience in undertaking publicly funded work;
- Experience in handling appeals in the First Tier Tribunal and the Upper Tribunal;
- Experience working with a Case Management System;
- Experience in achieving billing targets.
- Experience and understanding of representing victims of trafficking within the NRM Procedure;
- Experience in providing legal advice and representation to UASC;
- Experience in using the LAA’s Client and Costs Management System to apply for legal aid certificates, extend costs and scope limitations, and submit claims for payment on certificated matters;
- Experience in obtaining inter partes costs and instructing costs draftspersons.
Legal Casework
- Work closely with the Public Law supervisor and Asylum Aid Director to develop a public law caseload and drive challenges through strategic litigation;
- Provide legal advice and representation to clients on asylum and human rights claims, and on judicial review challenges pertaining to asylum and immigration matters and the treatment of asylum seekers and other migrants;
- Identify common problems and issues from the wider team’s caseload which are suitable for strategic challenges;
- Where appropriate, apply for LAA Case Funding through the CCMS, obtain appropriate costs and scope extensions, and submit claims for payment;
- Ensure that legal aid and other income is maximised, and targets are achieved;
- Maintain client files and records in line with file management procedures;
- Provide technical supervision and training in judicial review procedure to other staff where necessary.
Other duties:
- Contribute to the development and implementation of Asylum Aid’s strategy;
- Comply with professional standards and accreditation.
- Keep abreast of relevant developments in asylum/immigration law and practice, as well as judicial review procedure in the Administrative Court and Upper Tribunal;
- Ensure that any reporting and monitoring requirements are met in full;
- Use the evidence base generated to identify strategic challenges that can feed into wider policy, research and campaigning work.
- Assist, inspire and support colleagues in carrying out their duties;
- Attend and actively participate in staff and legal team meetings;
- Attend and actively participate in internal and external meetings, events, and training sessions as appropriate;
- Play a full part in the development of Asylum Aid generally;
- Adhere in full to all Asylum Aid’s policies and procedures;
- Respect for client confidentiality at all times in line with Asylum Aid’s confidentiality agreements and consent forms;
- Undertake any other related activities as required.
In addition to the essential criteria and desirable criteria above, the ideal candidate will meet the following criteria for the post:
Knowledge
- Excellent working knowledge of immigration and asylum law and policy;
- Understands the requirements of OISC/SRA/Lexcel and LAA in relation to the conduct of cases, file management and supervision;
- Thorough understanding of LAA contract provisions, particularly in relation to controlled and certificated work in the immigration and asylum category, and exceptional case funding;
- Understanding of judicial review procedure and public law principles;
- Good awareness of the welfare and support entitlements of asylum seekers in the UK; and
- An understanding of the barriers migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers face regarding access to legal advice, reasons why they may become destitute and why this makes it more difficult to access advice and support.
Abilities
- The ability to manage a high number of cases at any given time;
- The ability to maintain a high level of client care;
- The ability to work co-operatively with colleagues;
- The ability to work autonomously, prioritise workloads and meet deadlines;
- The ability to analyse and assess detailed information, and to grasp complex issues rapidly;
- The ability to communicate fluently and effectively in English with people from a wide range of backgrounds;
- The ability to deal empathetically and supportively with migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers;
- The ability to be self-servicing in an office environment;
- The ability to work outside normal office hours as required; and
- The ability to travel in order to carry out the responsibilities of the post.
Please note that the successful candidate will be offered the job subject to suitable references and an enhanced DBS check.
If appointed, you will be required to give your consent to Asylum Aid to receive regular updates on your criminal records status throughout your employment.
Please submit an up-to-date CV and cover letter by 9am Monday 22nd May 2023 . Your application should outline your relevant skills and experience, as well as how your previous experience matches the listed responsibilities and person specification to jobs@helenbamber.org. Please state in your covering letter when you would be available to start the role. In setting the salary, regard has been had to the NCJ payscales.
Interviews are scheduled to be held during the week commencing Monday 5th June 2023 at our offices in central London. For any queries, please contact Alison Pickup, Director of Asylum Aid, at alison.pickup@asylumaid.org.uk
We regret that we can only respond to applicants who make it to the interview stage. No agencies.
