Immigration Advisory Service - Community Legal Advice and Representation for Immigrants and Asylum Seekers

After training as a solicitor, I worked in a small legal aid high street firm, exclusively dealing with asylum and immigration work. I joined the IAS because of its reputation, the quality of its work, and its compassionate ethos.

The IAS attracts a range of clients from various ethnic groups, who have different types of immigration problems. This is challenging, rewarding and interesting – and has massively broadened my expertise in immigration and asylum work.

I enjoy the constant client contact - and the fact that I can immediately see the impact of my work. It’s very satisfying to help change the future for people living and working in the UK. I also like the fact that Advisers and Counsellors have an ‘open door policy’ - so you can approach them whenever there’s a problem, and discuss any matters of concern.

I’d like to continue in this role, with first-hand client contact. At the same time, I’d like to progress by dealing with judicial reviews and Court of Appeal work – and maybe even become a Counsellor at court.

I worked for a recruitment consultant before joining the IAS. I started as a temp to cover reception but after I’d been here for three months, there was an opening for a permanent Casework Assistant. I applied and got the job.

Nine months later, I was offered a position at another recruitment consultancy, which I accepted. However, I only stayed for a short time as I soon realised I didn’t enjoy the high-pressure sales environment any more; I much preferred working in an organisation that made a real difference to people’s lives. So I reapplied to join the IAS and came back, again as a Casework Assistant. I have since been promoted to Administrator.

I enjoy my work here: it’s challenging and diverse, and you get real satisfaction from knowing you’re part of an organisation that’s helping people in need. There’s also a good work-life balance. In the future, I’d like to continue learning and growing here.

After I graduated with a business degree, I spent some time working as an English teacher in Italy – and temped for a while in the UK. I joined IAS because I wanted to work for a charity or a not-for-profit organisation. Immigration and asylum issues were receiving a lot of media attention, and I wanted to get first-hand experience of these issues. And, having studied Spanish, French and Italian, and spending some time living in other European countries, I was interested in people from other cultures.

I started as a receptionist at the busy Birmingham office – I enjoyed this immensely, although I was under a lot of pressure to deal with the constant enquiries. I then began working as a Casework Assistant. I found this role even more interesting because I was able to learn about people’s individual cases - and felt that I was building good relationships with the clients, as well as the Caseworkers I was supporting.

After a year or so, I expressed an interest in becoming an Adviser – I was encouraged to do the legal training and become accredited. I passed my exams and moved to the newly opened Bristol Office, where I’ve since become accredited to Senior Caseworker - although act as a Counsellor.

My job’s high-pressure, but I really enjoy it. I love meeting clients, advocating in court, and generally helping people – and sharing in their happiness when things go their way.

I’ve recently started a part-time CPE (Common Professional Examination) Course at the University of West England, where I attend monthly residential sessions - and study like crazy in between. IAS has been very supportive, contributing to the cost of the fees and giving me an allowance of study days. If all goes well, I’ll graduate in 2 years’ time with a Postgraduate Certificate in Law. After that, I plan to do an LPC (Legal Practitioners Course) so that, one day, I can become a qualified solicitor.

Before joining the IAS, I worked for a local authority in their criminal litigation department.

Foremost, the area of law, in particular asylum and human rights law (something I strongly believe in), is what attracted me to IAS. However, in truth, at first I didn’t fully appreciate the full depth of what working in this field would involve: the immense vulnerability of our clients and the consequences of immigration decisions on their lives and on others around them. But the realisation soon dawned on me and I’ve never looked back. Secondly, advocacy and practicing law at the forefront of the legal system was extremely appealing to me.

The best part of my role or any other legal role within IAS is the autonomy given to caseworkers. We all have to perform our minimum functions, of course, but you virtually have complete autonomy on how you further the client’s claim; that is always the ultimate goal, the client’s interest. It is possible to take a case from its inception and retain it to its completion. This also provides excellent scope for development at your own pace. The senior lawyers throughout IAS will always encourage, nurture and develop one’s legal skills if they have the passion and drive to improve.

I also feel that the challenges of the continual change in the law and the satisfaction of being able to make a profound difference in the lives of some of the community’s most vulnerable members is unrivalled. Additionally, I believe working in this field also widens one’s perspective of life and the world around us.

I am very passionate about this area of law and the clients we seek to help. I also want to continue to specialise in this field and with so much more to learn. IAS provides a perfect platform for me to achieve my aims. For these reasons, I intend to continue with IAS and further develop my practice.