We’re recruiting 20 Presenting Officers to join our Appeals, Litigation and Administrative Review (ALAR) teams in various locations. The closing date for applications is 23:55 on 6th January 2025
The Home Office works to build a safe, fair and prosperous UK. We achieve this through our work on counter-terrorism, policing, fire, crime, drugs policy, immigration and passports.
The Customer Services Group brings together Asylum & Human Rights, Asylum Support and Dispersal, Asylum Accommodation Centres, Resettlement Group, Passports, Citizenship & Civil Registration, Customer Operations Support Services and UK Visas & Immigration. As a major operational arm of the Home Office, we play a vital role in supporting the economy and cultural life of the UK.
About the role
Appeals, Litigation and Administrative Review (ALAR) is responsible for dealing with all immigration decisions where an appeal or legal challenge has been lodged, defending those where appropriate.
As a Presenting Officer, you will have a degree of flexibility and autonomy in managing your workload, deciding how to pursue cases whilst developing your own style and approach. Presenting Officers develop strong communication skills, the ability to make decisions and review information quickly and deal with complex legal arguments.
This is a challenging position where you will make decisions in preparing and presenting cases in the first tier Immigration Tribunal and undertaking review of immigration decisions and responses to legal representations. You will be comfortable working in a fast-changing environment.
You’ll have strong communication and analytical skills. The role requires the ability to maintain focus and concentration over long periods of time, both when preparing cases and when presenting in opposition to legal representatives.
You will be supported with training and mentoring over 12 weeks to increase your knowledge and skills in the review, preparation and presentation of immigration appeals. Our comprehensive foundation programme provides a solid base of knowledge across multiple areas of immigration law and how to function in the Tribunal.
Benefits
We offer competitive starting salaries, along with a Civil Service Pension with employer contribution rates of at least 28.97 percent, and a range of other brilliant benefits including 25 days annual leave on appointment, rising with service.
You will also have access to learning and development tailored to your role, an environment with flexible working options and a culture encouraging inclusion and diversity.
Find out more about some of the other benefits we offer.
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- Bedford
- Cardiff
- Feltham
- Glasgow
- Leeds
- Manchester
- Newcastle
- Solihull
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A starting salary from £37,300 (from £41,300 London).
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Responsibilities include but are not limited to:
- Presenting cases before the Immigration Tribunal on 60% of available working days, adhering to professional standards and ensuring conduct is appropriate to a public tribunal.
- Developing and maintaining an effective knowledge of immigration law and processes.
- Reviewing and preparing cases and reviewing decisions and further legal representation in a manner that assesses their potential to be sustained and then identify key evidence to allow for effective supported argument.
- Working flexibly around any court listing changes or operational requirements, including preparing and presenting cases at short notice to meet operational demands.
- In an adversarial court environment provide structured cross examination and submissions to ensure appeals are upheld appropriately.
- Undertaking post-hearing work in a timely and accurate fashion.
- Undertaking immigration review work in accordance with the relevant rules, instructions, guidance and standards where court attendance is not possible or in line with business and operational needs.
- The post holder will be expected to develop and maintain effective relationships with key stakeholders including Immigration Judges, HM Court Service staff and legal representatives as well as engaging with colleagues in decision-making areas.
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- Candidates must have the ability to gain a strong working knowledge of immigration law.
- The ability to work in an environment with key skills in communicating and influencing with a range of external stakeholders.
- A high degree of accuracy when reviewing and considering complex legal arguments.
- A high degree of resilience in the face of stern challenge and opposition.
- Ability to work with dynamism in a changing and time-pressured environment.
- Strong analytical skills.
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We’ll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Communicating and influencing
- Delivering at pace
- Making effective decisions
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This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window) and will assess your Behaviours, and Experience.
As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete:
- Statement of suitability
You will be asked to complete a statement of suitability (maximum 750 words) to demonstrate your skills and experience for the role and how you meet the essential criteria as detailed in the job description.
The sift will be held on the statement of suitability.
- Interview and presentation
If you are successful at sift stage you will be invited to an interview where you will be required to prepare and then present a 10-minute presentation (no slides or handouts required) plus respond to follow-up questions from the interview panel to assess your suitability for the role. to present at interview. Details of the presentation will be provided at the start of your interview.
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As part of our pre-employment checks, enquiries and online checks may be made with the following organisations to identify whether they hold information which could be relevant when we assess your suitability for appointment:
- Office of the Immigration Service Commissioner (OISC)
- Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA)
- The Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEx)
- The Bar Standards Board (BSB)
- Law Society of Scotland
- Faculty of Advocates
- Law Society of Northern Ireland
- The General Council of the Bar of Northern Ireland
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If you are interested in one of these roles, please apply using the button below.
