CLOSING DATE: 5 MAY 2024

South West London Law Centres is seeking an experienced Asylum/Immigration Solicitor or Caseworker with the appropriate level of accreditation to provide casework together with colleagues in a number of new projects including homelessness and domestic violence cases.  You will show care and attention to our clients and the command of detail which is a hallmark of our work.

Salary: Up to £38,000 p.a depending upon experience

Term: Permanent

Based at:  Hybrid working, with a permanent base at our Croydon office

Hours:  Flexible – we welcome applications from those who wish to work part time and support a range of flexible working arrangements.

Person Specification

Key Tasks

The post-holder will predominantly work under a number of projects helping victims of domestic violence, street homeless individuals and developing immigration casework in Wandsworth.    You will provide a range of immigration and asylum casework to help to improve people’s immigration status which will help them to take the next steps in their lives, together with the support of people supporting them.  This will involve  the whole range of immigration and asylum cases including: settlement, variation and extension of leave, asylum, deportation, removal, nationality and EU cases.  Most areas of work are undertaken under the legal aid scheme with areas out of scope being covered by grant funding under the  projects.  The post will involve office based work in Croydon and remotely as well as potentially some outreach.

Essential Experience 

1. Experience of working under a Legal Aid Agency Contract specification for Public Funding (Legal Aid) and Legal Help with demonstrable billing targets.
2. At least two years’ full-time equivalent experience of immigration/asylum casework and representation covering a wide range of cases to meet the IAAS Level 2 accreditation.
3. Ability to manage a varied caseload of sufficient appropriate matters to meet the billing target currently of a minimum £50,000 per annum.
4. Ability to draft appropriate documentation in all areas and procedures of Immigration/Asylum law.
5. Commitment to equal opportunities as set out in the principles and policies of South West London Law Centres.

Essential Skills

6. Registered IAAS Level 2 caseworker.
7. Relevant accreditation with SRA or OISC and Enhanced DBS check.
8. An intelligent and highly motivated person who is accustomed to taking significant decisions and having a high level of personal accountability.
9. Ability to work independently with a proven ability to prioritise work and to meet deadlines.
10. Ability to liaise and work effectively in partnership with a wide range of stakeholders.
11. Excellent communication skills: you must be able to relate well to colleagues, clients and third parties, in person, in writing and on the telephone, despite the pressures of the role.
12. Understanding of the problems which face diverse communities and the strategies of successfully dealing with vulnerabilities of these victims
13. Ability to be self-servicing: you will be expected to manage most of your own typing, filing and billing and payment of cases.
14. Ability to use computer and information technology including management information systems and to be self-servicing. Must be proficient in Microsoft operating systems (Word, Excel, and Office).
15. Ability to working collaboratively within SWLLC.
16. You must be very well organised in order to work well under pressure without compromising standards.

Desirable Experience and Skills 

17. A wide range of representation experience in immigration tribunals and ability to recognise cases that could be subject to judicial review or to be taken through the higher courts
18. Current IAAS supervisor accreditation.

About South West London Law Centres

SWLLC is a community based legal practice and a registered charity. Our history dates back to 1974 when the first Law Centres in Wandsworth were created. We became SWLLC in 2004 through the merger of a number of Law Centres in South West London.

We now work across six South West London boroughs (Croydon, Merton, Kingston, Richmond, Sutton and Wandsworth).  In doing so, we address the root causes of social injustice – poverty, family breakdown, unemployment and exploitation. SWLLC provides full legal casework, representation and advice in the following areas of social welfare law – Community Care, Debt, Employment, Housing, Immigration & Asylum and in a limited way in Welfare Rights. In 2022/23 we assisted 6778 people. We represent clients in all courts and tribunals and worked on 2,609 cases. We also provide the housing duty solicitor scheme currently Kingston and previously at Croydon, Kingston and Wandsworth County Courts giving emergency representation in possession hearings for rent and owned homes and at the warrant stage for evictions. Last year we helped 899 clients through the scheme.

We continue to run one of the largest pro bono clinic services across England, we deliver around 100 free clinics appointments per week offering initial advice on a wide range of civil / legal problems over 400 pro-bono lawyers helped 2,954 clients last year.

We have a strong emphasis on quality – we are accredited to the Law Society’s Lexcel standard for excellence in legal practice management and client care and our Immigration Team has been rated as “Excellent” in a Legal Aid Peer Review for three years running.

Working at South West London Law Centres

South West London Law Centres has served the communities of South West London for 50 years. Today, we continue to meet the needs and address the disadvantage of around 7,000 clients per year. They include women fleeing domestic violence, people who are in housing crisis, people with no income or recourse to public funds, those with complex benefit challenges, and people mistreated by unscrupulous employers.

Joining the law centre is a chance to be a part of the law centres movement and to make a real impact with every case.

As an employer we offer hybrid working and support a range flexible working arrangements, including compressed hours to a four day week or nine day fortnight.  We welcome applications from those wishing to work part time.

We have a generous leave allowance at 29 days per calendar year for full time staff, rising to 34 days after five years’ continuous service as well as a range of discretionary leave to cover emergencies.

We offer opportunities for training and progression and support staff wellbeing through an employee assistance programme.

Our offices are centrally located close to transport hubs.

How to Apply

For more details, please download the application pack.

Apply by submitting your CV together with a covering letter setting out how you meet the person specification and why you’d like to work with us to recruitment@swllc.org

The final closing date for applications to this role is 5pm on 20 May 2024, however, we will be evaluating applications as we receive them and so you are advised to submit your application as soon as possible.

If you would like to have a brief informal chat to discuss the role, please contact us at recruitment@swllc.org