Immigration caseworker jobs

Overview of role

The UK Casework Lead is responsible both for a personal caseload and for the supervision, output, quality and revenue performance of RLS's UK legal team of three frontline caseworkers. We are looking for a qualified solicitor who is also IAAS accredited at Supervising Senior Caseworker level, qualifying ideally to supervise both the Immigration and Asylum and the Public Law contracts. The post holder will also hold the role of authorised litigator.

The postholder will be expected to generate legal aid income at a level that covers their own gross salary cost, and to lead the team's growth in legal aid billings against an agreed annual target. 

We are looking for someone with a positive, can-do approach and a strategic, ambitious, big-picture view of the team and the work. We want someone who will set direction for the UK team, grow the LAA contract in line with RLS’ strategic objectives, and support caseworkers and operational colleagues to become confident, self-supporting practitioners on a day-to-day basis, working in a trusting collegiate environment. 

Why work for RLS 

You will have autonomy to shape the UK casework team’s direction and grow the LAA contract.

We also offer: 

• Generous annual leave (28 days) plus bank holidays and a Christmas shutdown period, so you can properly switch off
• The chance to work in a small, dynamic team with an international footprint -  operating across the UK, northern France and Greece.
• Flexible working 
• Fantastic offices in London Fields, with free Climpson’s coffee

Key responsibilities 

Legal aid income generation 

• Lead the growth of RLS's legal aid income and maintain a personal legal aid caseload sized to generate billings covering the postholder's own gross salary costs. 

• Design and oversee caseload allocation across the team so that caseworkers develop skills and expertise, progressing swiftly in their professional development, legal aid revenue grows in line with the strategic target of 10–15% year-on-year, while preserving quality of advice and client care. 

Personal casework 

• Carry a legal aid caseload in immigration and asylum / public law, including controlled and licensed work as appropriate. 

• Provide high-quality legal advice and representation to clients throughout the application procedure, on appeal and in related judicial review claims where applicable. 

• Maintain client files and records to LAA, SQM, and SRA standards, and in line with GDPR and RLS's internal procedures. 

Supervision and team leadership 

• Supervise three frontline caseworkers (currently covering refugee family reunion and asylum) - including regulatory compliance, file reviews, technical supervision, casework allocation, performance managementand professional development. 

• Set and keep under quarterly review, ambitious-but-achievable case targets across the team in consultation with caseworkers, and monitor progress against them. 

• Help to supervise pro bono volunteer lawyers and trainees through three established pro bono partnerships

• Deliver internal and external training

• Foster a supportive, learning-oriented team culture 

Legal aid contract and regulatory compliance 

• Act as the LAA Supervisor for both RLS Immigration & Asylum and Public Law legal aid contracts 

• Manage the LAA contract end-to-end: compliance with the contract specification, oversight of controlled and licensed billing, exceptional case funding applications and billing of ECF files, and audit (LAA, SQM)readiness. 

• Act as the LAA authorised Litigator, the RLS's Quality Representative for the Specialist Quality Mark (SQM); manage Peer Review readiness and oversee actions arising from LAA and SQM audits, reviews or visits. 

• Ensure full compliance with IAA, SRA (where applicable) and SQM standards and record keeping across the UK casework team. 

• Maintain accurate financial records and information as required. 

• Provide half yearly reports to the RLS ED and Trustee Board on RLS audit readiness, and confirmation of progress to monthly and annual record keeping being up to date.

Monitoring, evaluation and reporting 

• Lead monitoring and evaluation of the legal team's outputs: case numbers, client outcomes, billing performance and quality indicators. 

• Report against targets internally (to the ED) and to funders where required. 

• Use case management system data and other evidence to inform team development, fundraising proposals and external impact reporting. 

General duties 

• Keep abreast of developments in immigration and asylum law and practice 

• Deliver training internally for caseworkers, trainees and pro bono volunteers 

• Adhere to all RLS policies and procedures, including safeguarding. 

• Undertake other duties within the scope of the post as agreed with the Executive Director. 

Person specification 

Essential criteria 

Candidates must meet all the following: 

• Qualification and accreditation: Solicitor qualified in England & Wales and IAAS accredited at Supervising Senior Caseworker level, qualified ideally to supervise both the Immigration and Asylum and the Public Law contracts. If only currently qualified to supervise the Immigration and Asylum contract, willing to work towards eligibility to supervise the Public Law contract as swiftly as possible.

• Casework experience: At least five years' (or equivalent) experience of running a caseload of complex asylum, immigration and human rights cases in a legal aid environment (including appeals and judicial review). 

• Billing track record: Demonstrable experience of meeting personal and/or team legal aid billing targets, and a clear understanding of how cost-billable work is generated and managed in practice. 

• Supervision experience: Experience of supervising caseworkers working in an LAA environment, including SQM and Immigration Specification compliance, file review, technical supervision and performance management. 

• LAA contract knowledge: Comprehensive understanding of LAA contract and specification provisions in the immigration and asylum, and public law categories, including controlled and licensed work, exceptional case funding,

• Tribunal experience: Experience of litigation in the Immigration Tribunals and the Administrative Court.

• Working style: Strong organisational skills; able to prioritise and meet deadlines; comfortable working autonomously in a small team and balancing personal casework with supervisory responsibility (anticipatedratio 75:25) 

• Communication: Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English; able to deal effectively with clients, colleagues, commercial pro bono partners and external stakeholders. 

• Values: A strong commitment to the protection of the rights of people who migrate, and to access to justice through high-quality, client-centred legal services. 

• Right to work: Right to reside and work in the UK. Successful candidate will be required to obtain an enhanced DBS certificate (RLS covers the cost). 

Desirable criteria

• Lived experience of migration systems. 

• Experience of working in a small charity or non-profit legal services setting. 

• Experience of working on pro bono partnerships with commercial law firms. 

• Experience of training and supervising trainees, volunteers or paralegals. 

• Knowledge of languages other than English relevant to RLS's client base (e.g. Arabic, Farsi/Dari, Tigrinya, Pashto). 

Terms and conditions 

• Salary: c. £50,000 per year, depending on experience. Pay scales are reviewed annually. 

• Hours: 37.5 hours per week (1.0 FTE). Flexible working arrangements considered. 

• Annual leave: 28 days per year plus bank holidays and Christmas shutdown period.

• Pension: Employer pension contribution of 3% (postholder contribution as per auto-enrolment). 

• Location: Hybrid working from London. Minimum two days per week in-person, including for confidential client meetings and team gatherings. 

• Probation: Six months. 

• DBS: Successful candidate will be required to obtain an enhanced DBS certificate. RLS covers the cost. 

We will be conducting interviews w/c 20 July 2026. 

To provide high-quality and comprehensive advice, information, practical and advocacy support relating to violence against women and girls (VAWG) perpetrated against black and minoritised women and children. To work predominantly with women who are deemed standard or medium risk, across West London. To assist with educational, developmental, policy and campaigning work arising from advice and casework, with a particular emphasis on those residing across West London boroughs.

Why work with Southall Black Sisters?

Southall Black Sisters is committed to providing a supportive working environment, where team members feel valued, empowered and safe. To that end, we provide an excellent package of employee benefits including:​

• Generous annual leave entitlement 
• Hybrid working 
• Enhanced pension contribution
• Enhanced sick pay
• Subsidised public transport season ticket
• A comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme, including access to confidential support from MBACP therapists 
• Clinical supervision with an MBACP therapist to explore issues arising from casework
• A focus on continued learning and development through accredited training delivered by experts in their field
• Organisation-wide away days
• Career development pathways and support
• The opportunity to learn and grow within an organisation renowned for inspiring political activism and campaigning successes
• Employer eye care scheme

To Apply

Submit a completed application form along with the optional equal opportunities monitoring form by the application deadline. Please do not send us your CV as this will not be considered.

Please note, incomplete applications will not be considered.

About Care4Calais and the Legal Access Department

Care4Calais is a volunteer-based charity providing essential aid and support for refugees in France and the UK.

In northern France we operate year-round from Calais, working alongside communities in Calais and Dunkirk to provide warm clothing, bedding and service provision to displaced people who live in difficult and dangerous conditions.

Across the UK we collect and distribute clothes, shoes, mobile phones and other essential items, as well as providing psycho social support and interaction, including language lessons, sport and music workshops. We also help with vital access to medical and educational services.

Our Legal Access Department is an access to justice project that exists to support people seeking asylum in the UK by facilitating access to legal representation and offering holistic support to people throughout the asylum process. The department, made up mostly of specially trained volunteers, works tirelessly to ensure that people feel informed, empowered, and far less isolated and alone. We conduct one-to-one, complex casework for people seeking asylum for a variety of matters, over the years we have supported thousands of people to secure legal representation. Our current casework channels include securing legal representation and support for people’s asylum claims, challenges to unsuitable accommodation and potential removal from the UK (for example under the current UK-France ‘One in One out’ deal), and support for young people in their age dispute matters. Our teams work remotely across the UK. The Department seeks to adapt and amend our services based on the needs of the communities that we work with.

About the role

The aim of the role is to support and inspire volunteer teams to undertake the individual one-to-one casework and support that lies at the heart of what the Legal Access Department does, furthering access to justice for people seeking asylum and refugees. The Casework Manager will be responsible for the casework conducted by our Asylum Team, which focuses on securing legal representation for our client's asylum claims and offering holistic support through the difficulties of the asylum process. Casework managers will use their experience and understanding of the UK asylum system and conducting complex casework to guide their teams, working collaboratively with each other and the Head of Department to respond with agility to a fast-moving policy environment.

Responsibilities

Volunteer Management

• Lead existing team(s) of volunteers to undertake their specified roles as agreed with the Head of Department
• Conduct quarterly 1:1s with volunteers to give and receive feedback, reaffirm commitments, review caseloads, support with more complex cases, and ensure volunteer wellbeing. Escalate any issues and/or concerns to the Head of Department where necessary.
• Motivate and engage volunteers, taking into account the remote nature of the roles, collaborating with other Casework Managers.
• Facilitate regular team meetings and/or virtual drop ins for volunteers to ensure continued engagement and space to raise issues or concerns.
• Support volunteer caseworkers undertaking their roles, providing advice on casework and stepping in to support clients where required. Provide casework cover when volunteer caseworkers are otherwise unavailable.
• Supervise the casework conducted to ensure that volunteer caseworkers adhere to casework procedures so that every client receives the same level of service. Where volunteers may struggle to adhere to procedures ensure that concerns are identified and raised in a timely manner to reach an appropriate solution.
• Support volunteers to raise safeguarding / protection concerns through the appropriate channels. Escalate concerns where necessary. Support volunteer caseworkers through debriefs.
• Recruit, train and onboard new volunteers with the support of the Head of Department as required.
• Manage own, limited, complex caseload of clients where required to support the volunteer casework team.

Casework Management

• Oversee the appropriate collection and management of confidential client information and data, ensuring that volunteers adhere to organisational policy at all times.
• Keep team procedure documentation up to date, implementing changes where required to keep pace with the ever-changing policy environment. Work with the Head of Department to proactively adapt the casework services provided to suit the needs of the communities we work with.
• Work with the Head of Department to proactively identify systemic issues seen regionally and/or nationally and influence the direction of the Department. Contribute to evidence gathering and furthering strategic litigation cases supported or undertaken by the Department.
• Report on team progress to the Head of Department via pre-arranged channels and format.
• Attend relevant external meetings representing the organisation as needed, ensuring that knowledge and learning is shared across the department.
• Build and maintain robust understanding of the policy landscape impacting people seeking asylum in the UK, identify and attend external training opportunities, ensure that any learning is passed on to other staff and volunteers across the organisation.
• Build and maintain relationships with key partners and stakeholders, including, but not limited to local authorities, legal teams, and other NGOs focused on support of people seeking asylum.
• Attend and contribute meaningfully to team meetings

Person specification

1. In-depth understanding of the UK asylum system
2. Dedication to social justice with a clear understanding of the challenges faced by vulnerable populations, or a willingness to learn about these
3. Ability to work sensitively with a diverse range of people, demonstrating cultural competence, respect and compassion
4. Able to build positive relationships with a range of stakeholders including those from displaced communities, legal teams, and other charities
5. Clear leadership ability, with the capability to act with initiative and drive
6. An understanding of the volunteer experience including potential challenges volunteers may face
7. Self-motivated and used to managing multiple priorities to meet deadlines
8. Collaborative team member with excellent verbal and written communication skills
9. Strong digital literacy, including ability to work on Google Workspace and Office 365
10. Resilience in the face of challenging and emotionally demanding situations, with a positive and solution-oriented mindset

Whilst not essential, we welcome applications from people with the following skills

     12. Proficiency in one or more of the languages spoken within asylum seeking communities, such as, but not limited to:               Arabic, Farsi, Pashto, Dari, Kurdish Sorani, Tigrinya or Amharic

     13. Experience leading and managing volunteer teams from varied backgrounds

Application process

Please apply via CharityJob and submit your CV and a letter of interest. In this, please outline your interest in the role and how you meet the criteria set out in the ‘person specification’. Please include any skills, relevant experience and examples of how you exemplify each point. We recognise that skills and experience come from more than just employment history and encourage anyone who meets most of the specification for this role to apply, even where this experience comes from outside traditional employment structures. If you are interested in applying but do not have all the experience necessary, we encourage you to contact us at admin [@] care4calais .org to set up an informal chat with our staff. We can discuss why you would like to apply for the role and what skills or experiences you have which could be relevant.

The recruitment process will include two interview stages which will both be conducted online. We will be reviewing applications as they arrive and reserve the right to close the advert before the closing date. Care4Calais receives a very high volume of applications for roles we advertise and therefore we are unfortunately unable to offer feedback to applicants who are not successful in securing an interview. We do, however, thank you for your interest and taking the time to apply for this role.

Care4Calais is dedicated to cultivating a diverse and inclusive work environment and recognises that this is invaluable to our ability to serve the communities we work with. We therefore welcome and encourage applications from diverse backgrounds including from Black, Asian and Minority-Ethnic communities, people from refugee and migrant backgrounds, and people with lived experience of the UK or EU immigration systems.

We are a proud member of the Experts by Experience Employment Network (EBE), which aims to create a charitable sector led by individuals with lived experience of the asylum system.

As part of our membership, we are dedicated to creating inclusive employment practices that recognise and accommodate the unique circumstances and strengths of people with lived experience. We actively move away from a one-size-fits-all approach, ensuring our recruitment processes are fair, supportive, and accessible.

We warmly encourage applicants with lived experience to make use of the guidance and resources available on the EBE website (ebeemployment). In addition, applicants with lived experience are welcome to connect with the EBE support team for tailored assistance with completing the application form and, where available, one-to-one interview preparation.

Importantly, we recognise the significant cultural, linguistic, and experiential insights that individuals with lived experience of the UK asylum system bring to this role. As such, all applicants from this background who meet the essential criteria will be automatically shortlisted and invited to interview. If you are a candidate with lived experience, please let us know in your application. We respect that people’s identity is not defined by their past experiences and will not expect candidates to describe their lived experience at interview unless they wish to do so.

If you have any questions about this or need additional support with the application process for any reason, please contact us at admin [@] care4calais .org