Immigration Associate

Shoosmiths is the law firm clients choose for excellent service, incisive thinking and above all for our ability to focus on what matters. From offices across the UK and Brussels, we support some of the world’s most exciting and ambitious businesses; amazing clients making an impact. We empower our people to be their authentic selves and deliver together in supportive teams committed to excellence and innovation. The first top 50 law firm to achieve ‘Platinum Standard’ Investors in People, our values and culture are not just words on our website but are the heartbeat of the firm.

We have an outstanding benefits package to complement our competitive remuneration system. In addition to the competitive salaries, great working environment and high-quality work, we believe that all staff should be rewarded for their commitment to the continued success of the firm through a comprehensive and flexible range of benefits.

To discover more about our benefits, please visit: Benefits Package

Our Employment and Immigration team is widely respected for providing an excellent service and delivering pragmatic and timely legal advice to its highly regarded client base. It’s a collaborative unit, operating on national lines.

The recent Government changes and Brexit led to a rapid expansion in clients’ requests for support with obtaining visas and sponsor licences. Our immigration team supports individuals and employers alike with a wide range of visa applications, licence applications and right to work requirements as well as compliance and training.

Following the recent growth and ongoing success of the team, we want to hire a dedicated Immigration lawyer to work on a full immigration caseload as part of our Employment and Immigration team.

This is your chance to build your reputation for delivering immigration advice to a wide range of our clients – from household names to individuals. You will have the support of the collaborative national team behind you but the opportunity to work closely with our lead immigration practitioners, Emma Morgan and Rachel Harvey to grow and develop this business.

The existing team is split primarily across Nottingham, Manchester and Milton Keynes and we would be open to applicants based here or in our other regional office locations. The role is agile so involves a mix of home and office working.

The candidate we’re looking for will have experience of both personal and corporate immigration and would be comfortable running their own files.  For this reason, we’re looking at 2 yr PQE+ and would be open to those who’ve taken an alternative route and have an equivalent level of experience as a Legal Executive or Paralegal. 

To help you understand the requirements of the role - the types of work we would like you to have experience of are as follows:

• Sponsor licence applications;
• Navigating and using the SMS including requesting and assigning CoS and carrying out compliance reports
• Skilled Worker visas;
• Compliance and right to work advice;
• Carrying out audits on right to work/Sponsor duty compliance;
• EU settlement applications;
• Indefinite leave and Naturalisation;
• Family related applications – spouse and dependant visas;
• Global Talent applications
• Client training

Our approach to our people is underpinned by our approach to diversity, inclusion and well-being. Our ambition is to build a diverse and ambitious workforce that reflects all backgrounds and talents, and a workplace that is supportive and inclusive, recognises and nurtures talent, and has a strong sense of community between colleagues.

This means that everyone who either applies to or works for the firm is treated equally, whatever their gender, age, ethnic origin, nationality, marital status, disability, sexual orientation or religious beliefs.

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