Immigration Paralegal

The role

This is a great opportunity for a paralegal with strong immigration experience to become part of a growing practice group. You will gain exposure across a range of clients and have responsibility for completing relevant research, drafting documents and completing applications. You will be working closely with the Head of Department and will also have the opportunity to gain broader business development exposure in order to further raise the profile of the practice.

Role responsibility

• Responsible for assisting with the preparation of immigration applications, under supervision.
• Extensive experience completing online visa application forms, drafting Certificates of Sponsorships, uploading documents to UKVCAS and scheduling biometric appointments.
• File opening and closure, following compliance rules.
• Scanning and copying of documentation.
• Research into specific areas of immigration law or on specific questions.
• Review client queries and draft responses for review by the team.
• Drafting covering letters for immigration applications.
• Compiling case summaries of recent decisions so as to keep legal knowledge up-to-date.
• Answering incoming queries and providing case updates to clients.
• Drafting press releases and blog articles for publication.
• Preparing account forms for Finance processes.
• Coordinating the end-to-end billing process and Elite financial reporting.
• Ensuring the Business Development (BD) team is fully informed of any BD activities and updating the schedules as required.
• Supporting PAs where required, especially during any absence.

About you

Ideally you will be able to demonstrate:

• Previous immigration experience as a paralegal.
• Excellent attention to detail, oral and written communication skills.
• Excellent diary management, organisational and time-management skills.
• Flexibility, initiative and a proactive nature.
• Ability to work well in a deadline driven environment, remaining calm and focussed.
• Ability to work in a team and to multitask – establishing relationships with members of other departments.
• Proactivity in taking responsibility for cases.
• Discretion when dealing with sensitive information and high profile clients.
• The desire to take ownership of your career progression – your career development will be fully supported.
• An awareness of SRA rules and regulations.
• Excellent use of Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, PDF and PowerPoint.

Practical use of the below systems would be desirable:

• Elite 3E
• DocuSign
• Carpe Diem
• Lexis Smart Forms or Laserforms
• CRM
• Chrome River
• Document management system (e.g. iManage)
• PDF Docs and Adobe

Benefits

• Competitive salary
• 25 days annual holiday
• Permanent Health Insurance
• Life Assurance
• Interest free Season Ticket Loan
• Private Healthcare
• Pension Scheme
• Staff Introductory Scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme

About us

With almost 200 lawyers in one location, we ensure our clients have the right team to help them get from where they are to where they want to be. We advise major corporates and institutions as well as entrepreneurial, ambitious enterprises which are often privately or family owned, or private equity backed. As well as our significant business law capability, we are one of only a few London-based law firms with a large private wealth offering. Our clients find our straightforward approach a compelling alternative to larger, less personal firms.

Whether you are an ambitious and talented individual wanting to hit the ground running from day one, or an established professional looking for a new opportunity, Howard Kennedy is the firm where you can really make it happen.

We have earned a strong reputation for our exceptional and uniquely talented people who between them deliver outstanding results for clients. In a firm of our size, our strong team dynamic creates a thriving culture of creativity and entrepreneurialism. Howard Kennedy is a pragmatic and non-hierarchical environment where success is shared, and you are proactively encouraged to thrive at your own pace.

Our distinctive culture is built on fairness and respect. Guided by the firm’s values of talk straight, think smart and be yourself, everyone in the firm holds equal value, and everyone plays their role in supporting, encouraging and inspiring colleagues to do their best work.

At the same time, we recognise and reward individualism, celebrating the diversity of our people and supporting them to grow their practice and drive their own career advancement.

As well as client work, there is opportunity to broaden your horizons at the firm with fulfilling pro bono and charity projects. We have a regular social calendar full of wellbeing activities, charitable and social events too.