Immigration & Asylum Appeals and Court Procedures

How to win asylum appeals - preparation and presentation

One day 10am - 5pm
CPD: 5.5 hours
Level: Intermediate/Advanced/LSC level 2/OISC level 3
Trainer: Amir Zaidi

13 November 08 - 8PP1311 - London
11 February 09 - 9PP1102 - London
18 June 09 - 9PP1806 - London

Winning appeals against refusal of asylum remains one of the difficult areas of immigration law. With focused preparation and careful presentation, however, the chances of success can increase dramatically. This course is designed to maximise chances of success in asylum appeals by giving candidates clear guidance from a barrister who has presented thousands of appeals before the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal. The course will provide candidates with proven tactical approaches to common problems in asylum appeals as well as a thorough grounding in requirements of counsel, solicitors and caseworkers in presenting appeals.

Course content

• how to prepare your client for giving evidence
• credibility - ensuring your case is believed by the Immigration Judge
• using the current appeals structure to your advantage
• case law and Procedure Rules - advantages and pitfalls
• the responsibilities of caseworkers in presenting oral and documentary evidence
• discussion of relevant standards of proof, issues of persecution, exclusion, credibility
• current case law on practice and procedure
• case study discussions - common pitfalls and how to get around them
• submissions - leading the Immigration Judge to your conclusions

Objectives

At the end of the course participants will be able to:

• prepare and present an asylum appeal
• advocate before the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal

Entry clearance and other non-asylum appeals

One day 10am - 5pm
CPD: 5.5 hours
Level: Intermediate/LSC level 2/OISC level 3
Trainer: Azhar Chohan

17 September 08 - 8EC1709 - London
2 December 08 - 8EC0212 - London
10 March 09 - 9EC1003 - London

This updated course will give participants a detailed overview of the immigration appeals system, including rights of appeal and the Asylum & Immigration Tribunal.

The focus will be upon preparation of and representation of non-asylum immigration appeals such as entry clearance appeals and appeals against in-country Home Office refusals.

Course content

• the general grounds for refusal and re-entry bans
• rights of appeal in non asylum cases under current legislation
• preparing and presenting an appeal: rules of evidence, procedure before, during and after hearings
• evidence relevant to entry clearance and non-asylum appeals

Objectives

At the end of the course participants will be able to:

• advocate before the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal
• lodge and prepare appeals
• acquire and present evidence
• identify relevant law

Entry Clearance application procedure

Half day 1pm - 5pm
CPD: 3.5 hours
Level: Basic/intermediate/OISC levels 1 & 2
Trainer: Azhar Chohan

21 October 08 - 8CA2110 - London
20 January 09 - 9CA2001 - London
19 May 09 - 9CA1905 - London

Course content

This updated course will enable attendees to prepare Entry Clearance applications more effectively and provide an overview of the relevant considerations that Entry Clearance Officers (ECOs) should take into consideration.

The course will focus on:

• the general grounds for refusal and re-entry bans
• how to prepare an application
• what documents are needed
• time scale
• what will lead to refusal
• how to lodge an application
• how the new points system will shift decision making overseas to ECOs

Judicial review of immigration decisions

Half day 10am - 1pm
CPD: 2.5 hours
Level: Intermediate/LSC level 2/OISC level 3
Trainer: Ranjiv Khubber

16 September 08 - 8JR1609 - London
22 January 09 - 9JR2201 - London

Course content:

• the purpose of this course is to provide a practical
  guide to challenging immigration decisions by way of
  Judicial Review
• the course will look at the essential principles in
  Judicial Review and the practical steps to challenging
  a decision

Objectives:

At the end of the course participants will be able to:

• understand the basic principles of Judicial Review
• identify which decisions can be challenged by way of
  Judicial Review
• understand the process of pursuing a challenge the
  way of Judicial Review
• understand current legal issues in relation to practice
  and procedure
  

Application for review/reconsideration:
procedure and practice

Half day 1pm - 5pm
CPD: 3.5 hours
Level: Intermediate/LSC level 2/OISC level 3
Trainer: Amir Zaidi

19 August 08 - 8AR1908 - London
10 December 08 - 8AR1012 - London
21 April 09 - 9AR2104 - London

Course content:

• the purpose of this course is to provide a practical guide to challenging appeal decisions of the AIT by applications for review/reconsideration
• the course will look at the legal and procedural framework including the error of law jusrisdiction and time limits
• the course will look at the process of 'first stage', 'second stage' reconsideration hearings; refusal and 'opt-in' applications to the Admin Court

Objectives

At the end of the course participants will be able to:

• understand the basic principles of the review/reconsideration procedure and practice
• identify typical types of legal error
• understand the process of pursuing a challenge through the review/reconsideration process
• understand current legal issues in relation to practice.