Brent Community
Law Centre
JOB DESCRIPTION
JOB TITLE:
Asylum & Immigration Solicitor
12 month contract
SALARY:
£32,606 - £36,960 depending on qualification and
experience
HOURS:
Full time – 40 hours
ACCOUNTABLE TO:
Management Committee
MANAGED BY:
Supervising Immigration Solicitor
MAIN PURPOSE:
To provide advice and representation in immigration
and asylum law, including public law challenges.
Introduction
Brent Community Law Centre is seeking to recruit a 12 month temporary
contract asylum and immigration solicitor to join our existing immigration team
and provide maternity cover. The post holder will be responsible for the
delivering of asylum and immigration advice and casework across a range of
areas including asylum, asylum support, human rights, immigration and
citizenship cases including judicial review, First Tier and Upper Tier Tribunal
(IAC) work.
The BCLC Immigration team is funded by two Legal Aid Agency contracts, one
based at the Law Centre and one based at the local CAB office further along
Willesden High Road. The post holder will be required to attend both offices,
sometimes conducting an advice surgery and perhaps some new case
appointments at the CAB office. We also take on a small but increasing amount
of reduced rate fee charging casework on immigration cases that are now out
of scope.
Brent Community Law Centre has achieved the LEXCEL standard to provide
legal advice and assistance in housing, immigration, employment, welfare
benefits, public law, community care and debt.
1.
Advice and Casework
(a)
To provide a casework and advocacy service to clients of the Law Centre
in all aspects of asylum and immigration law. This is largely individual
casework based, subject to any group work in which the Law Centre is
involved.
(b)
To assist clients in liaising with other people and organisations to resolve
their immigration and asylum problems where possible.
(c)
To represent clients at tribunal and courts dealing with immigration and
asylum appeals, and in judicial review matters, and to do the necessary
preparation and research.
(d)
To visit clients at their homes if appropriate.
(e)
To attend counsel’s chambers with clients as required. To brief counsel
where necessary.
(f)
To give advice as part of our telephone advice service and to book the
necessary follow up appointments.
(g)
To take part in outreach sessions
(h)
Where possible assisting clients in a way that develops refugee and
immigration law.
2.
Duties and Responsibilities
(a)
To ensure that all advice, assistance and representation comply with all
of the requirements of the Legal Aid Agency contracts and LEXCEL
standard, whether undertaken on LAA contract or not.
(b)
To ensure proper time recording and prompt billing. We currently use
the AdvicePro system. You must be able to meet your set billing target
and run files to LAA contract standard.
(c)
To ensure that the terms of all Law Centre funders are kept to in relation
to advice and casework including reports as required to the LAA and
other funders.
(d)
To be responsible for your own word processing, filing and case
recording with assistance from volunteers and paid staff when
appropriate and available.
(e)
To advise front line advice staff in other agencies within the catchment
area in relation to immigration and asylum law, should they call our
telephone advice line.
(f)
To liaise and develop referral systems with current and potential client
groups and organisations
(g)
Work flexibly with other staff to ensure the effective work of the Law Centre
including covering for colleagues where necessary.
(h)
Contribute to the administration of the office to ensure the smooth and
efficient running of the centre.
3.
Professional Development
(a)
To attend courses on new legislation, specialist skills and the use of
information technology.
(b)
To keep up to date with the changes in relevant legislation.
(c)
To read the relevant immigration and asylum case law reports and other
relevant materials.
(d)
To undertake such training as is necessary as to maintain the required
CPD points.
(e)
To participate in the immigration departments review and supervision
processes as appropriate.
4.
Social Policy
(a)
To be alert at all times to the social policy implications of issues
presented by clients.
(b)
To take appropriate action to influence social policy in regard to these
issues.
5.
Equal Opportunities
(a)
The Law Centre’s clients are largely on low incomes and come from a
diverse range of minority ethnic groups. The post holder will be expected
to show a particular interest in working with this type of client group and
to show an understanding of equal opportunities issues.
b)
Generally to have regard at all times in the planning and execution of
duties to the Law Centre’s Equal Opportunities Policy.
6.
Information Technology
The post holder will be expected to use computers on a regular basis.
S/he will also be expected to type up documents as and when required.
7
Special Features
To take an active role in the Law Centre Collective, including
participation in Staff meetings, Management Committee meetings and
AGM.
Assist in BCLC policy formation, planning and implementation.
In addition to the tasks and duties listed in the job description to
undertake such duties as may be identified and which are generally
compatible with the functions of the post.
This job description is to provide guidance and direction. It is not an
inflexible document, nor is it intended to limit the range of duties which
could reasonably be expected of the Post Holder. The job description
will be reviewed at each appraisal in accordance with the Staff Appraisal
Policy.