LEGAL AID IMMIGRATION AND ASYLUM

Legal Aid Immigration and Asylum

Legal Aid is available to clients in Asylum claims, Asylum Appeals, Asylum Fresh Claims, Humanitarian Protection, Victims of Domestic Violence, Modern Slavery, Human Trafficking, Immigration Bail, certain Exceptional Human Rights cases and Special Immigration Appeals Commission cases.

Legal Aid is subject to a ‘means assessment ’ (assessment of income and savings). A prospective client will need to provide us with recent evidence of their income before we can accept their case.

Asylum appeals and higher appeals in particular are also subject to ‘merits assessment’ (assessment of the strength of your case) and Legal Aid will only be made available where the client’s case is assessed to have a 50% or greater prospect of success at appeal.

Prospective new clients should attend our twice-weekly drop-in service with evidence of their identity, income, Home Office case details and any supporting evidence.

Drop-In Service

Drop-in will run Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays 10am to 02pm at our main office in Old Trafford. The aim of our drop-in service is to establish whether attendees have a UK immigration legal matter that we can assist with and ascertain whether it would be appropriate for us to provide advice and representation on a fee-paying basis or under our Legal Aid Agency funding.

No appointment is required for drop-in, though you may have to wait and we cannot guarantee that you will be seen on the same day.

Please note, if you plan to attend a drop-in or an appointment to be assessed for legal aid eligibility, we require you to bring the following documents with you:

  • Photographic ID (this essential and without this you will not be seen).
  • NASS letter dated within 6 months (if applicable to you as an asylum seeker).
  • Utility bill dated in the last 3 months of your appointment or official proof of address.
  • Last 3 months bank statements (for you and your partner) from the date of your appointment.
  • If you (or your partner) are working, your last 3 months pay slips.
  • If you (or your partner) are self-employed, last year’s accounts report prepared by  your accountant and any HMRC Self Assessment submissions letters.
  • If you (or your partner) are in receipt of Income Support, Job Seekers Allowance, Employment Support Allowance or Universal Credit please go to Jobcentreplus and ask them to write a letter confirming what benefits you are in receiving and how much it is.
  • Recent working tax and child benefit letter (for you or your partner).
  • Recent housing benefit letter (for you or your partner).
  • All documentation regarding your asylum and immigration case.
  • If you do not speak English please bring with you an English-speaking friend to assist during drop-in. If we agree to take you on as a client, we will arrange for an interpreter for future meetings.

Without the above, it would be difficult for us to assess your entitlement to Legal Aid.

QUESTIONS ABOUT A JUDICIAL ISSUE? ASK OUR EXPERTS.

LET’S WORK TOGETHER

We have a multidisciplinary practice which overlaps in expertise to provide the best representation to client.