Thursday 8 February 2023

My introduction to UK immigration law

After taking a year out before studying at university, I wrote to numerous law firms across London. As Laura Devine Immigration is such a highly regarded law firm in the UK, they were one that I wrote to, and fortunately, they replied and offered me a short internship. Going into my internship, I had no idea about the complexity of the UK immigration system. However, after my first day, when I came across thousands of abbreviations, I quickly lost my naivety. I realised that immigration was not as simple as crossing borders and getting your passport stamped. But, with some incredible help from the brilliant legal minds here at LDI, I learnt day by day more about the maze that immigration solicitors must pass through, with each case posing a different challenge.

Integration within the London team

Coming into my internship at LDI, I had limited knowledge of the law, let alone immigration law. The team helped induct me slowly with training sessions and introduced me to some mainstream immigration routes. With some help, I began to decipher the abbreviations and piece together the immigration puzzle. By the end of my first week, supported by a fantastic team of paralegals, I began to work on drafting various letters to clients and the Home Office. The best part of my internship at LDI was that I felt very trusted early on, and everyone was willing to lend a hand when I needed it – which was more often than you may think! The team at LDI were very approachable and always checked on me. They would add me to calls or send me new cases to work on, ensuring that I never ran out of things to do. I enjoyed getting involved in more than just the legal work at LDI, often helping the PSL team with administrative legal tasks, including running an exciting external webinar.

Networking and exploring careers

Talking to professionals who knew so much about the law on a daily basis was eye-opening for me. One of the reasons I put off university for a year was that I was unsure what I wanted to do professionally. Talking to a range of people in various positions at LDI helped me settle my mind and know that I made the right choice. Everyone was knowledgeable, and their passion for law quickly rubbed off on me.

Important skills and qualities for an immigration lawyer

I have learnt that having a keen eye for detail is essential whilst interning at LDI. Reading the Home Office guidance for all the various routes and working out the small and intricate requirements that must be met was very satisfying, especially once I knew what I was searching for. I owe a huge thank you to everyone at LDI for their support and kindness every day. I urge anyone considering career options to apply to LDI for an internship or work experience.

Written by Tom Crumbie.