Tutor: Gabriella Bettiga, MGBe Legal

This course focuses on the main Cost Assessment Guidance rules and explores the most common mistakes observed in providers’ LAA files at audits. We will look at ways to ensure files remain compliant with LAA cost regulations when you don’t have access to your office and we will discuss how to maintain high quality work whilst working remotely.

Tutors: Adrian Berry, Garden Court Chambers, Hazar El-Chamaa, Penningtons Manches Cooper, Sophie Barrett-Brown, Laura Devine Immigration and Gabriella Bettiga, MGBe Legal

A must-attend course on the all the latest developments in Home Office policy and practice during the Coronavirus crisis.

The aim of the course is to bring practitioners up-to-date with what you need to know now to advise and represent clients whose immigration status and ambitions are affected by Home Office policy and practice during the Coronavirus crisis.

15:00 – 15:05 Introductions

15:05 – 16:15 Part 1 Advice for Sponsors

·         Visa applicants and temporary migrants

·         In-country Switching

·         Advice for sponsors

·         Tier 1 Entrepreneur

·         Right to work and right to rent checks

Part 2a Advice for Individuals

·         EU settled status and free movement issues

·         NHS Workers

·         NHS Charging

·         Coronavirus Hotline

16:15 – 16:30 Q&A

16:30 – 16:45 Break

16:45 – 18:15 Part 2b Advice for Individuals

·         Detention and Bail

·         Appeals, Judicial Reviews, and Remote hearings

·         Legal Aid issues

·         Asylum procedures and fresh claims

·         Asylum support

·         Travel documents

This course focuses on the legislation and practical steps to take when running an asylum application. With new firms being granted Legal Aid contracts, we will focus on the Legal Aid Agency’s requirements in relation to costs, quality and file maintenance in relation to legal help asylum matters. The course would also benefit fee earners in private practice with little experience on asylum and human rights claims.

At the end of the session you should have a general understanding of the basic LAA funding regime, be aware of the steps to be taken in an asylum claims and of the general advice required by your clients.

Topics:

• The Geneva Convention grounds
• Human rights claims
• Funding regime (Legal Aid)
• Practical steps and liaising with the UKVI
• File maintenance
• Steps to be taken
• General advice to clients
• Common problems

Solicitors and experienced caseworkers spend a significant amount of time on non-remunerated admin work. Tasks often include having to filter through enquiries, complete legal aid forms, assess initial eligibility, or chase evidence of means. This training aims to prepare administrative staff to help fulfil some of these tasks.

·         A basic understanding of what is “immigration/asylum” and what is “legal aid”;
·         To  identify prospective clients who are in scope of legal aid;
·          To identify the type and stage of legal aid funding;
·         To carry out initial financial eligibility assessments;
·         To understand and  seek the required documentary evidence of financial means from the prospective client or relevant body or persons;
·         To understand various financial limits within the type and stages of funding;
·         To gain an understanding of various legal aid forms and any specific key sections of these forms

This is a practical course aimed at practitioners new to legal aid. The course will cover:

• Financial means LAA regulations
• Completion of the legal help form
• Time recording, chargeable and non-chargeable work
• File maintenance
• Common errors and problems

This course aims:

• to review the principles of Article 8 protection;
• to give an overview of the policies, Immigration Rules, and statutes which set out the Secretary of State’s understanding of Article 8;
• to give an up-to-date and detailed review of domestic and Strasbourg case-law relating to Article 8; and
• to consider strategies for protecting clients’ Article 8 rights in the face of hostile courts, tribunals and politicians.

The aim is to bring participants up-to-date with developments in the law on Article 8 and to provide ideas and strategies for protecting and enforcing Article 8 rights.

Tutors: Gabriella Bettiga, MGBe Legal

This course focuses on how to run an asylum application and looks at the relevant legislation and practical steps to be taken. It will also cover the main Legal Aid regulations applicable to legal help files. At the end of the session you should have an understanding of the Geneva Convention grounds and be able to prepare an asylum and human rights application.

Tutors: Gabriella Bettiga, MGBe Legal

The course is aimed at caseworkers who wish to draft strong, hard-to-challenge statements, and is packed with practical tips. Attendees will explore style and drafting techniques, essential content, format and presentation, and common traps. The tutor will also look at professional conduct issues likely to arise in asylum matters, and how to deal with vulnerable clients.

Topics:

​​​​​​What you should cover when taking a statement
How to tackle credibility issues
Statements and vulnerable clients
Beware of vicarious trauma
Statements in immigration applications: when and why are they needed
How to respond effectively to refusal letters
Lots of practical tips
​​​​​​Be prepared to share your experience in this interactive webinar. You can send general question to the tutor when you register for this course.

Tutors: Gabriella Bettiga, MGBe Legal and Zoe Bantleman
Barrister at Richmond Chambers

This course will focus on the legal framework, procedure and practical steps in preparing further representations.

Topics:

· Legal framework

· Standard of proof

· Advice to clients

· Pitfalls and common errors

· Procedure

· Overview of post-refusal remedies

Tutors: Gabriella Bettiga, MGBe Legal, Marios Kontos, UKGLIG and Bojana Asanovic, Lamb Building

This course will focus on the aspects of an initial claim and appeal based on sexual orientation or gender identity. It requires some knowledge and experience of the asylum procedure.

Topics will include:

– Building trust with LGBTQI+ clients
– Credibility Issues (incl. late disclosure)
– Witness statements
– Evidence
– Essential caselaw
– Key resources for lawyers