Step-by-step access to justice toolkit available in English, Amharic, Arabic, Tamil, and Urdu
The Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants (JCWI) today held the official launch of its new access to justice toolkit, aimed at people having problems because of their immigration status in the UK.
You can download the guide from here on JCWI's website. The guide is available in English, Amharic, Arabic, Tamil, and Urdu.
JCWI says the guide will help empower those seeking justice in immigration matters. It provides a step-by-step approach to working effectively with immigration lawyers, offering insights into what individuals can expect from legal representation, and what lawyers will expect from their clients.
It also offers advice on building or improving relationships with lawyers and outlines the steps that individuals can take if they are dissatisfied with their legal representative.
Separate sections of the guide cover:
- What is a legal issue?
- What do solicitors and immigration advisors do?
- Types of advisor
- Legal advice and legal support
- Legal Aid
- Checking that a legal representative is qualified
- Finding a legal representative
- Your first contact with your solicitor
- Your relationship with your solicitor
- Working with solicitors
- What to do if you are not happy with your legal representative
- Support organisations and centres
There's plenty of valuable and practical advice in the guide to help individuals navigate and access justice within what JCWI describes as the UK's "punishing and complex" immigration system.
As the guide emphasises, it is important that a trusting, professional relationship is established between clients and their solicitors, as individuals with immigration problems may need to share difficult or traumatic experiences. The guide stresses that lawyers should ensure a safe and comfortable environment for such discussions.
JCWI notes that the relationship between clients and legal representatives is a collaborative one, with both parties holding rights and obligations to work together towards the best possible outcome.