Associate – Immigration (Junior Level)

The opportunity

We are looking for a Junior level immigration solicitor to join our Business Immigration Team in London to work on a broad range of corporate immigration matters; including advising on applications under all working visa routes, sponsor licence applications and immigration audits and compliance projects. Whilst the role is for a business immigration solicitor, as the Business Immigration Team regularly works on global mandates, the candidate should expect to coordinate immigration work with lawyers in other Bird & Bird offices and our Plus network as well as working closely with colleagues in the Employment Team other departments such as Tax, Corporate, Commercial, Real Estate, IP and Data Protection.

The firm

Bird & Bird opens up a world of possible for lawyers and professionals everywhere. Here you can advise major enterprises and high-growth businesses on matters that are often transformative in nature, and alongside people who are truly collegiate in the way they work with everyone at Bird & Bird. We are one international firm, where over 70% of our work involves teams from across our firm. And that is only going to increase. It is this common purpose and shared approach that makes for a more productive, and collaborative place to work.

The team

The Business Immigration Team sits within the London Employment Group and is part of the Firm’s wider International HR Services group which is made up of more than 150 lawyers. Our clients include many household names across a range of sectors as well as tech start-ups, unicorns and other domestic and multinational companies. The Business Immigration Team has a significant number of “pure” immigration clients but also plays a key role in advising clients on employment and HR legal issues. Further details of the Business Immigration practice can be found on our website, or by clicking here: https://www.twobirds.com/en/capabilities/practices/international-hr/business-immigration

What you'll do

The main element of the successful candidate’s role will involve assisting our corporate clients with sponsor licence applications and work visa applications for senior and key talent. We do not, typically, engage in high volume immigration work and, instead, provide a “white glove” service providing support from the beginning to end of a matter.

The principal tasks will include:

• Analysis of potential issues involved with immigration applications and working collaboratively with fee earners and clients to resolve them;
• Liaise with key stakeholders to assist in the progression of a file from initial touchpoint to completion;
• Preparation and issuance of draft CoS;
• Review of application forms and supporting documents for compliance purposes;
• Advise on regulatory requirements (e.g. right to work);
• Arrange for expected funds form and request for client money forms (send them to clients once approved and acknowledge receipt once received);
• Submitting application forms, payment of government fees, booking appointments (where applicable), uploading documents, and preparing entry clearance/further leave to remain advice using our template forms;
• Review visa stamps and digital visa;
• Use our online ACCESS legal tech platform to manage visa projects (e.g., upload documents, update status, set visa expiry reminders);
• Update our internal online collaboration platform Solutions Lab with our template emails/forms; and
• Review billing arrangements and ensure that agreed fee arrangements are respected.

The individual will also be expected to:

• Assist with mock audits and other compliance projects. This can also encompass provision of advice in relation to business visitors and any other new visa routes;
• Coordinate our international projects, including obtaining fee quotes from local counsel, acting as a hub for managing complex cross-border mandates, obtaining advice on different visa regimes; and
• Actively market the Business Immigration Team, both internally and externally (e.g. preparing articles and participating in seminars).]

About you

• Strong academic background and excellent analytical skills;
• Superb communication skills with a focus on accuracy;
• Passion for immigration law;
• Previous experience as an Immigration paralegal is desirable;
• Excellent team player who can work with various key stakeholders under time pressure;
• Able to spot potential issues and ask questions to mitigate risks;
• Broad range of business immigration experience (e.g. Skilled Worker, Global Business Mobility, sponsor licence, Temporary visa categories, Mock audits, legal right to work, immigration compliance, ILR);
• Experience having worked with Band 1 or 2 immigration firm would be desirable;
• The role is for a business immigration solicitor; however, as we do get asked to work on personal immigration issues for clients, some experience in personal immigration routes (e.g. spouse visa) or education-related visas would be a plus (but not a requirement).

The main responsibilities of this role are outlined above; however, this description is not exhaustive, and the job holder may be required to undertake additional duties from time to time to ensure the smooth running of the department. The role may require some working outside our normal working hours of 9:30am- 5:30pm.