Job Ad: Asylum Aid are recruiting a Justice First Fellow and Trainee Solicitor

Background

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 working with Survivors of trafficking and torture, unaccompanied minors and stateless people.

Asylum Aid fills a critical gap in support for people at risk of being returned to danger and violence overseas or forgotten in the legal system, resulting in crisis and exploitation in the UK . We know that without the proper time and care, people seeking asylum 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 them, so they are able to obtain legal protection and remain safe.

Equal Opportunities and Lived Experience

The Helen Bamber Foundation and Asylum Aid is 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 to all roles from those with BAME and migrant backgrounds who are under-represented in our organisations.

For this Fellowship, we encourage applications from all eligible applicants and particularly welcome applications from refugees, stateless people and others with lived experience of forced migration wishing to train and practice law in England and Wales.

We recognise and value the role of lived experience in meeting the needs of our clients and acknowledge the under-representation of people with lived experience of forced migration and statelessness in the refugee and migration sectors and in the legal profession. We value experience gained overseas as well as in the UK and you will receive full training over the course of the Fellowship to enable you to transfer your knowledge and skills to the UK context.

The Fellowship is open to people who have passed or obtained an exemption from the first stage of the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE 1), including overseas qualified lawyers, as well as those who have completed the Legal Practice Course. The Solicitors Regulatory Authority has information on its website about how overseas qualified lawyers can become qualified as solicitors in England and Wales through the SQE, including guidance on their approach to applications by lawyers from countries experiencing political unrest: https://www.sra.org.uk/become-solicitor/qualified-lawyers

We offer a guaranteed interview for refugees, stateless people and others with lived experience of forced migration, provided that they meet the requirements to have completed the LPC or to have passed or gained exemption from SQE1 and at least 50% of the remaining essential criteria.

If you are an expert by experience (a refugee or a migrant with direct, first-hand experience of issues and challenges of the UK asylum or immigration system), you can ask for an independent and confidential support for your job application from the Experts by Experience Employment Network (www.ebeemployment.org.uk). Please complete this form to request support and they will confirm if they can match you with a mentor to support your application.

Otherwise, if you feel you would like support or adjustments to the application process, please feel free to reach out to us for an informal discussion.

You must have the right to work in the UK throughout the Fellowship: we are unable to provide visa sponsorship.

About the role

This is an exciting opportunity to train and qualify as a solicitor within Asylum Aid’s casework team. You will have the opportunity to work, under supervision, on the range of asylum and protection work, including applications under the statelessness procedure, trafficking cases, and family reunion. You will also work on public law claims arising from our casework and support our policy advocacy and strategic legal work.

Asylum Aid will provide all necessary training and supervision to enable you to develop your skills and provide expert legal advice and representation in complex cases. You will also be supported to develop and implement a project as part of your Justice First Fellowship to increase access to justice for those seeking protection in the UK.

As is the nature of this sector, the role will be exposed to a high volume of traumatic and distressing material and, whilst you will be supported by the Immigration supervisor and surrounding team, you should also be able to demonstrate awareness of good self-care principles in an intense work environment.

Essential Qualifications, Experience, Knowledge and Skills

• Law degree or equivalent qualification and successful completion of the Legal Practice Course, or a degree-level qualification in any subject and have passed Part 1 of the Solicitors Qualifying Examination, or an overseas qualified lawyer who has passed or been granted an exemption from SQE 1;
• At least 12 months’ experience of paid or voluntary work in an advice-giving or legal education organisation (e.g. law firm, law centre, Citizens Advice, or similar advice agency);
• An understanding of the reasons why people seek asylum in the UK;
• An awareness 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;
• Ability and willingness to learn and assimilate new knowledge in a working environment;
• The ability to communicate fluently and effectively in English, and with people from a wide range of backgrounds;
• The ability to maintain a high level of client care;
• The ability to work autonomously, prioritise workloads and meet deadlines.

Desirable Qualifications, Knowledge and Experience

• Personal lived experience of the UK asylum system and/or of statelessness or forced migration. *You will be not be asked about your lived experience during the application process and are not expected to reveal this if you do not wish.*
• Accredited under the Law Society’s Immigration and Asylum Accreditation Scheme (IAAS) to at least Casework Assistant level and/or registered with the OISC to at least level 2 in Asylum and Protection work and level 1 in immigration work;
• Understanding of the Refugee Convention and of the UK immigration and asylum system;
• Experience of delivering advice to, or working with, asylum seekers, stateless persons or other vulnerable populations, particularly those whose first language is not English;
• Understanding of the legal aid system in England & Wales;
• Experience of working with a Case Management System;
• Awareness of trafficking and modern slavery and of the UK National Referral Mechanism

Key Duties and Responsibilities

Legal Casework

• Undertake appropriate casework tasks on matters relating to asylum, protection, trafficking and statelessness as delegated by fee earners and with supervision
• Under supervision, provide legal advice and representation to clients on asylum and human rights claims, trafficking referrals, family reunion and other routes to protection, throughout the application procedure, on appeal and in related judicial review claims
• Where appropriate, apply for legal aid funding for cases, including Exceptional Case Funding and certificated funding;
• Carry out country information research and research case-related legal issues;
• Time record all chargeable work on legal aid matters in a timely manner;
• Demonstrate excellent standards of client care, taking account of the particular needs of vulnerable people;
• Make referrals to attempt to find additional, non-legal support for clients, where this is deemed appropriate and clients are open to such support.
• Ensure that all requirements of the Legal Aid Agency contract with regard to the conduct of publicly funded work are complied with in respect of delegated tasks, in particular paragraph 8.18 regarding Reserved Matters
• Ensure that legal aid and other income is maximised, and targets are achieved;
• Maintain client files and records in line with file management procedures;
• Analyse legal information from domestic and international case law and legislation.                             

Other duties:

• Design and implement a project which contributes to the development and implementation of Asylum Aid’s strategy to increase access to justice for people seeking protection in the UK;
• Comply with professional standards and accreditation, including securing and maintaining IAAS senior caseworker accreditation;
• Attend training and courses as agreed with supervisor for professional development;
• Ensure that any reporting and monitoring requirements are met in full;
• Assist, inspire and support colleagues in carrying out their duties;
• Attend and actively participate in staff and legal team meetings, supervision, appraisal and training sessions as appropriate;
• Adhere in full to all Asylum Aid’s policies and procedures;
• Undertake any other related activities as required.

Throughout all aspects of the role

• Respect for client confidentiality at all times in line with Asylum Aid’s confidentiality agreements and consent forms;
• Ensure accurate and timely record keeping of client data on the case management system and participate in gathering data when required for monitoring and evaluation in line with organisational KPIs;
• Promote the aims, principles, interests and wellbeing of Asylum and to protect its integrity and reputation at all time;
• Support the organisation at special events and initiatives.

How to apply?

All applications for this post must be made through the online application form on the Justice First Fellowship website. Further information about the application process, including the timeline, is available at: https://jff.thelegaleducationfoundation.org/how-to-apply/eligibility/

The deadline for applications is 29 November 2024. Shortlisted candidates will be notified in January 2025 if they are invited for interview. Interviews will take place between 20 January and 7 February 2025.

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.

We regret that we can only respond to applicants who make it to the interview stage. We kindly request no contact from agencies.

Start date: 1 April 2025