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Applications for this opportunity will open in September 2024.
Project background听
MSC endeavours to provide holistic and specialist advice, support and casework on immigration, welfare and housing issues for migrants, refugees and asylum seekers across London. Our beneficiaries often have insecure immigration statuses and are struggling due to the policies of the 鈥榟ostile environment鈥�. They include people who have overstayed or are undocumented, individuals with significant health problems, those with strong family ties to the UK, those with a limited leave to remain but no recourse to public funds, etc.听
We seek to empower our visitors to take control of their cases and support them in the process of feeling settled in our communities.
About the role
Legal Support Volunteers will work on two main projects but will also need to be flexible and undertake other tasks needed by the immigration team.
Making Exceptional Case Funding (ECF) applications:
- 听ECF applications allow our visitors to get legal aid and a free immigration solicitor. Most of our ECF applications are granted, but the process can be tedious, and you will need to be persistent and pay attention to details. This will include supporting visitors to obtain financial evidence to show that they are eligible for legal aid.
Collecting evidence for 20 years applications:听
- Some of our visitors have been advised to make an application based on their long residence, because they have been in the UK for over 20 years. These applications require a lot of evidence to prove residence for each of these 20 years. Legal Support Volunteers will help visitors collect, organize and present this evidence
Other tasks:
- 听Assisting in referring visitors to legal aid solicitors and听following-up on referrals.听
- Chasing solicitors and liaising with external agencies in听relation to cases.听
- Making Subject Access Requests to the Home Office and听checking the files received.听
- Assisting with monitoring and evaluation of our casework.听
- Compiling case studies.听
- Assisting with other casework or admin work as required.听
- Maintaining clear records of actions performed and results in听our case management system
Benefits of joining HMSC
This role is suited to those students who would like to gain experience in case funding applications and working closely with听vulnerable people on their asylum and immigration matters. This opportunity will develop their understanding of the issues facing refugees, asylum seekers and other migrants in the UK and ways to provide legal and practical support to vulnerable migrants facing the 鈥榟ostile environment鈥�.
HMSC is a small and very busy charity, where everyone contributes to the smooth running of the office and where all members of staff and volunteers are dedicated to making a difference in the life of our visitors. Interns will hopefully appreciate the direct contacts with the visitors and the very practical approach of our work. Interns will be able to shadow specialist advisers and learn from them.
Expenses
Please note that this is an unpaid internship.
HMSC will reimburse the following expenses in case the intern works at HMSC office:
鈥⑻� 听travel expenses听
鈥⑻� 听lunch (up to 拢5)听
Receipts will need to be presented.
Essential Characteristics
Skills and competencies
鈥⑻� 听Very good writing skills and attention to detail听
鈥⑻� 听Ability to write clear, precise letters and case notes, using appropriate tone and vocabulary;
鈥⑻� 听Ability to deal with a range of people and agencies over the phone
鈥⑻� 听Good computer and administration skills
鈥⑻� 听Familiarity with case management systems and databases is desirable but not essential
鈥⑻� 听Foreign language skills are very useful 鈥� please indicate language and level of proficiency whilst applying
Knowledge and experience
鈥⑻� 听Knowledge of the immigration and welfare system in the UK and of agencies relevant to the migrant/refugee sector is desirable but not essential
鈥⑻� 听Experience (even limited) in conducting casework is desirable but not essential
Personal qualities
鈥⑻� 听Empathy and understanding of the complex issues faced by migrants
鈥⑻� 听Patient, calm manner when dealing with vulnerable visitors
鈥⑻� 听Ability to work in a busy environment and to participate in the everyday running of the office
鈥⑻� 听Good communication skills
鈥⑻� 听Flexible approach, being proactive and creative in solving problems
鈥⑻� 听Efficiency and reliability
鈥⑻� 听Commitment and professional dedication
CAJ Mandatory Volutneer Training听
In addition to HMSC's internal training,听all students be required to听complete the CAJ Mandatory Volunteer training, which covers data protection and confidentiality, working with vulnerable clients, professional conduct and regulation, self-care, and our expectations of CAJ volunteers.
Pro Bono Skills Development Framework 听
The Centre for Access to Justice now offers all students engaged in voluntary pro bono the opportunity to participate in the听Pro听Bono听Skills听Development Framework. This framework allows you to reflect on the听skills听gained during your placement, aligned with the听听Completing it earns you a Certificate of Commitment to听Pro听Bono, acknowledging your dedication and skill development. Your participation will help you document and showcase the valuable competencies you've developed, however, please note that participation in the PBSDF scheme is entirely voluntary and will not affect your placement in any way.
Time commitment
We are looking for one assist听who will work 1 full day on Tuesdays听from mid-October until the end of April (exact dates tbc). It is essential that interns be able to attend in-person on Tuesdays.
Flexibility is paramount, in terms of location (working remotely or in the office) and in terms of tasks.
Who can apply
- LLM students only听
- Students who are available to commit to one full day every听Tuesday.
- Period flexible, from mid-October until the end of March (exact dates and day of the week to be discussed)
- Able to work remotely from home if need be (this means having access to a confidential working space)听
How to apply & deadline
Applications for this opportunity will open on 23 September 2024. The deadline is 16 October 2026, and interviews will start on the week commencing听21 October.听
Please apply via the .
When applying, please make sure you have completed the听. You only need to complete this once per academic year.听听听听听
If you have any questions about this opportunity, please contact Annika Melwani at annika.melwani@ucl.ac.uk.