Directorate: Chief Executive’s
Hours: 37 hours a week
Contract Type: Fixed Term for 2 years
Location: The Council House
Role Overview
We are seeking a dedicated and experienced Immigration Solicitor to join our legal team. This specialist role focuses on providing expert advice on immigration matters impacting children in care, care leavers, and families with no recourse to public funds (NRPF). You will work closely with social care teams across the East Midlands region to ensure compliance with immigration law and to promote the rights and welfare of vulnerable individuals.
Key Responsibilities
Legal Advice
Provide comprehensive legal advice to social care teams across multiple local authorities who are partners in the East Midland Councils group, on immigration issues affecting children in care, care leavers, and families with the NRPF condition, including but not limited to asylum, human rights law, EU law, age assessments and citizenship law.
Assist in the assessment of immigration status and options, including pathways to regularisation, settlement, or citizenship.
Advise on the implications of immigration status for access to services, housing, and financial support.
Support social care staff in understanding immigration law and policy changes that impact their work.
Policy and Strategy
Develop and implement guidance for social care teams on immigration law and its intersection with safeguarding responsibilities.
Contribute to the development of local government policies addressing the needs of families with NRPF and other vulnerable groups.
Monitor and communicate relevant legal developments, advising on their potential impact on the council’s obligations and practices.
Training and Collaboration
Deliver training sessions to social workers and other staff on immigration law and related procedures.
Collaborate with other legal and social care professionals to deliver integrated support to clients.
Build relationships with external agencies, legal aid providers, and community organisations to enhance the support available to service users.
You will work closely with other solicitors and will be supported and managed by a highly experienced fellow immigration lawyer.
In addition, we offer:
• competitive, equal pay with annual increments and increases
• the opportunity to carry a varied and stimulating caseload
• access to the Local Government pension scheme
• work life balance (flexible working and the option of working from home for part of the week)
• 27 days annual leave plus public holidays
• eligibility to apply to purchase up to ten days additional annual leave.
• funding may be considered for professional development that would complement your career aspirations
You will need to be:
· a qualified solicitor/barrister/chartered legal executive (Fellow of CILEx)
· proven expertise in immigration and asylum law, ideally relating to children and families
· experience advising or representing clients in complex immigration matters, including those with NRPF
· enthusiastic as well as being a good communicator
· able to work under pressure and on your own initiative
· be able to give clear pragmatic advice
For an informal chat please call Sarika Kohli on 01332 255414 or Anna Pollard on 01332 643601
Apply online at www.derby.gov.uk/jobs-and-careers. For further information, please contact the Human Resources Division, Derby City Council, Council House, Derby, DE1 2FS or telephone: 01332 293111
Next Steps
If you would like to apply for this vacancy, please submit an application via the Derby City Council website.
The closing date for this vacancy is at midnight on 28 February 2025. Any applications received after the closing date will not be accepted.
Interviews will be held week commencing 10 March 2025.
Important Information
Links to the full Job Description and Person Specification are below.
All employees will normally be appointed to the minimum of the grade for the job.
Before you complete your application form please read our guidance on filling in your application form.
Remember to align your personal statement to the essential criteria in the Person Specification.
Please be aware that where there are colleagues within the organisation who are ‘at risk’ of redundancy, requirements to redeploy to another suitable role will apply and take priority.
Equality, Diversity & Inclusion
We are a fair and inclusive employer and welcome applications from people from all backgrounds. We recruit for diversity and value difference. As many of our roles can now be home-based, we are able to offer more opportunities for people who need this facility.
We are proud to be a Disability Confident Leader. If you are a disabled person, you have the choice to apply under our Guaranteed Interview Scheme so long as you demonstrate that you meet the essential requirements for the job.
We feel it is essential that we recruit a talented workforce that is as diverse as the community we work for.
Please let us know of any individual requirements or reasonable adjustments you may have during the application, interview, or onboarding process and we’ll do all we can to help. We strongly believe in social understanding of disability and for us it’s all about removing barriers to equality.
If you have any questions regarding this vacancy or are having difficulty applying, please contact our Recruitment Team on 01332 640844 (Relay UK – 18001 01332 640 844) or at recruitmentteam@derby.gov.uk. https://www.derby.gov.uk/signing-service/
