Immigration Legal Service

The Immigration Legal Advice Service provides advice and representation, under the Legal Aid scheme, in all areas of asylum and human rights law relating to Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights.

Advice and representation are provided by specialist solicitors and caseworkers who are very experienced in offering advice to help you resolve your problems. We will listen to you to understand your current situation and wherever possible, will help you to find a solution.

We offer appointments for the following matters where Legal Aid is available, and the client qualifies financially for Legal Aid:
  • Asylum matters
  • Advice, preparation and representation on Asylum applications and in all appeal stages
  • Advice, preparation and representation on Article 3 matters
  • Domestic Violence and Bail matters – advice, preparation and representation on all appeal stages
  • Advice on the merits of making an application for Judicial Review
  • Appeals on Judicial Review where there are merits.
  • Advice, preparation and representation in Exceptionally Funded Cases – such as family reunion.
We will organise professional interpreters when necessary.

Our free casework service is available to people who qualify for Legal Aid.

Click here to check if you are eligible for Legal Aid

To receive help under the legal aid scheme you must provide the following:

  • proof of your income for the past calendar month (e.g. your last payslip, a letter confirming your entitlement to Asylum Support Payments, welfare benefits, bank statement covering the last month)
  • if you have a partner, you must bring proof of their income as well and they will also need to sign the Legal Help Form
  • proof of your capital or savings for each account you have in the form of an up-to-date statement or passbook.

In exceptional circumstances, you may not need to provide these documents if the help you need is an emergency, and you cannot obtain them.

To contact us to see if you are eligible for legal aid and to make an appointment:

ImmigrationLegalServices@bht.org.uk

BHT Sussex, 144 London Road, Brighton BN1 4PH

Call into our reception and leave your name, phone number and the nature of your query. One of our caseworkers will contact you as soon as they are able.

If you require an appointment at our Hastings / St Leonards on Sea office then please make this clear in your email.

We are registered by the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC), registration number: N201300060

BHT Case Studies - Baddar's Story

For some it comes as a surprise that BHT runs an immigration and asylum legal service.  The overwhelming majority of those we work with are ‘unaccompanied minors’, young people and children arriving in the UK with no adults to look after their welfare.

Baddar came to the UK in 2008 aged 15 fleeing persecution in Afghanistan.  His initial asylum claim was refused.  We assisted him with a further application to allow him to remain in the UK but this was also refused.  After this, there have been numerous appeals with every decision seeming to go against him.  We gathered evidence in support of his claim to show that he is particularly vulnerable as he has a learning difficulty and suffers from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and depression.

How we supported Baddar
Baddar
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