Solicitors & Advisor Legal List
Asylum and Immigration Legal representatives
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Search the OISC website for registered OISC Agencies or the Law Society
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FInd a solicitor from the Law Society
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Immigration and Asylum law is a minefield, one person can promise you the right to remain, while another will say you must go back to your country.
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Always get a client care letter, (and confirm costs if private work) before instructing anyone. Generally you need a 50% chance of success to get legal aid to pay for your solicitor, so if you cannot get this, and a private solicitor is charging you its likely you will lose your money, although the insanity of immigration decision making mean there’s always a chance you can get papers, or not.
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Legal aid pays for very little time, so you need to pay attention to your case, and help your solicitor understand your need for protection.
The Right to Remain Toolkit is good place to start to understand your own case.
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Firms we know who work with legal aid cases, or give free legal advice we wrote in the pdf above.
'I need legal help with a residence application, my kids have leave under the EEA residence route'
Ruth called asking for help as she needed a legal advisor, but couldn't afford to pay for one.
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RMC give free legal advise to all refugee and migrant people, and are OISC registered -
'RMC is regulated by the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC) and is accredited to provide free immigration advice up to Level 3 of OISC which includes also representation before the First-tier and Upper Tribunal. We currently have a team of 40 immigration advisors.' https://rmcentre.org.uk/immigration/
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Theres a branch in Walsall, Wolverhampton & Birmingham online details here: https://rmcentre.org.uk/contact/
Birmingham Branch - The Refugee and Migrant Centre, Second Floor, Chamberlain Building, 36 Frederick Street, Birmingham, B1 3HN
info@rmcentre.org.uk 0121 374 0140
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If you need help, you can attend one of RMC’s three offices where our open drop-in service runs on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday mornings between 9am-1pm. Regular appointments are booked on a first-come, first-served basis but emergencies are prioritised.
Alternatively, service users can contact our new Regional Telephone Service (NOT AN ADVICE LINE) number on 0800 0663 444 for an update on existing enquiry/s.
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Brushstrokes is regulated by the Office of the Immigration Commissioner (OISC) and our registered Advisor, Salman Mirza, can provide immigration advice and services up to level 3. https://www.brushstrokessandwell.org.uk/advice
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Contact info@brushstrokessandwell.org.uk to make an appointment, please summarise your issue in the email. Advice can be given on a wider range of immigration issues.
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Address: 253 High Street, Smethwick, B66 3NJ Phone 0121 565 2234, https://www.brushstrokessandwell.org.uk/contact-us
Legal training Videos for Women
Legal training is important for women who are going through the asylum process. So they understand the process and the legal steps that take place. Sue Conlin from TACTIC has delivered these training sessions and we have published them on our You Tube channel.
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Educating women on the process and preparing them for questions which may seem daunting is very important. Providing these legal training guides and PDFs will empower and educate more women on the steps they have to take.
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Links to videos:
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Tactic Training Preliminary Interview Questionaire (PIQ) 22 9 23
https://youtu.be/1_EmKaIttZA?si=LU_o2lRjxXn37clx
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Tactic Training Screening and Substantive Interviews 21.9.23
https://youtu.be/Ci0sX2yF6yw?si=HZVHiLjCgFczfdY6
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TACTIC Legal Training 20 Day Questionaire
https://youtu.be/7APVI8RBLGY?si=BVZI9Xw02LkeqeRa
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'I've been waiting for more than 12 months for an asylum decision, what can i do?'
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Layla had been moved to Glasgow from Birmingham and was struggling while waiting for a decision on her Fresh Claim. Her solicitor was in Birmingham, and she had spoken to them already. They had written to the Home Office to ask for a decision on her further submissions case.
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I suggested getting a copy of the letter the solicitor sent, and take it to the MP who can ask the Home Office why theres a delay on a decision. Sometimes waiting is best, as if the decision is negative then she could be destitute again. I also suggested that after 12 months of having a case outstanding she can apply for the right to work which would allow her to start her life again in part. Although i did warn the shortage of occupational jobs list was usually applied, but with the new trafficking case saying the SOl list not ok, perhaps that could help asylum seeking women.
