Immigration Legal Associate

Join Richmond Chambers – a leading team of specialist UK immigration barristers

We're looking for talented and ambitious graduates to join our growing immigration team as Legal Associates. This is an exceptional opportunity to make a meaningful impact while developing first-hand experience of UK immigration law and the modern immigration bar.

About Richmond Chambers

Richmond Chambers is an award-winning partnership of specialist immigration barristers and other immigration law professionals. Widely regarded as the UK's leading immigration barrister law firm, our members share a commitment to delivering the highest quality immigration advice and representation - with the standards of service expected from a trusted, modern law firm.

We specialise in every aspect of personal and business immigration law, including family and partner migration, work and business routes, investment migration, the EU Settlement Scheme, sponsor licensing, nationality law, refugee protection, and human rights.

Our work spans the full range of privately funded immigration matters - from initial, extension, settlement, and citizenship applications to the Home Office through to administrative reviews, appeals, and judicial reviews before the immigration tribunals and higher courts.

Chambers currently comprises 19 barrister members and 2 pupils, supported by a dedicated team of Legal Associates and Business Services professionals.

The Role

As a Legal Associate, you will work closely with and in support of our immigration barristers across a diverse and often complex caseload. You will gain hands-on experience assisting with visa applications, immigration appeals, and judicial reviews, often involving challenging or novel points of law.

You will shadow and support barristers with their casework under supervision, working within a small team of one or two barristers. Your day-to-day responsibilities will include liaising with clients, attending conferences, taking instructions, completing application and appeal forms, conducting legal research, reviewing documents, preparing bundles, drafting correspondence and legal submissions, and attending appeal hearings.

No prior experience in a law firm or chambers is required. You will receive comprehensive training - both from the barristers you work alongside and through in-house and external courses. We are committed to your professional development and will provide ongoing mentoring and regular feedback to help you progress.

This is a demanding and rewarding role that offers early client contact, real responsibility, and exposure to complex immigration matters from day one. You will also be expected to stay up-to-date with developments in immigration law and policy.

Working Environment

We pride ourselves on fostering a friendly, inclusive, and supportive working culture where everyone can thrive personally and professionally. Collaboration is at the heart of our approach - we work together to achieve the best outcomes for our clients.

We actively promote wellbeing across Chambers and are proud to have received a Certificate of Recognition from the Bar Council for our commitment to wellbeing initiatives.

Pathways to the Bar or Solicitor Qualification

Aspiring Barristers:

As a Legal Associate, you will gain invaluable experience working alongside some of the UK's leading immigration barristers in an innovative and forward-thinking set. Richmond Chambers is unique in specialising exclusively in UK immigration law and, with its alternative business model, offers a distinctive insight into life at the modern immigration bar.

Legal Associates are eligible to apply for pupillage with us. While employment as a Legal Associate does not guarantee an offer of pupillage, several of our Associates have successfully secured pupillage at Richmond Chambers and gone on to build rewarding careers at the immigration bar. Others have progressed to leading law firms and chambers.

Aspiring Solicitors:

We do not offer training contracts, but time spent as a Legal Associate counts as Qualifying Work Experience (QWE) for the purposes of the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE). The role provides outstanding legal experience, professional training, and the opportunity to build relationships that support future career development.

Candidate Requirements

Essential:

• A strong academic background, with a minimum 2:1 degree;

• A clear commitment to working with migrants and/or in the field of human rights;

• Excellent English language skills, both written and verbal;

• A proactive, self-motivated approach with strong attention to detail;

• A commitment to exceptional client care and professional standards;

• The ability to work independently and as part of a team;

• Outstanding organisational skills and the ability to meet strict deadlines;

• Strong IT literacy, including experience using Apple Macs, Google Workspace, and other cloud-based tools.

Desirable:

• Postgraduate academic qualifications (Master's, Doctorate, GDL);

• Postgraduate vocational qualifications (BTC, LPC);

• Immigration casework experience (personal or business) gained in a leading immigration law firm, chambers, or consultancy.

We value diversity and are committed to promoting equality and inclusion. We welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds.

What We Offer

• Starting salary of £28,850;

• 20 days' paid holiday, increasing by one day per year up to 25 days (plus bank holidays);

• Opportunities for unpaid leave;

• Flexible, remote, and home working opportunities;

• Central London location;

• Annual interest-free travel loan;

• Bespoke professional development and training, both in-house and external;

• Online subscriptions to ILPA, EIN, and Free Movement;

• Pension scheme;

• A collaborative and supportive culture;

• Exposure to high-profile and complex immigration cases;

• Opportunities to work with a diverse international client base.

How to Apply

Please complete our
Legal Associate Application Form
and
Equality & Diversity Monitoring Form which can be found on the vacancies page of our website.
All applications will be treated in strict confidence.

This is a 12-month fixed-term position. While further employment beyond 12 months may be offered, this will depend on individual performance and business needs at the relevant time.

The closing date for applications is
Friday 28 November close of business)

. Early applications are encouraged, as exceptional candidates may be interviewed before the closing date.

If you do not hear from us within 14 days of the closing date, please assume that your application has not been successful in the first round. Unfortunately, due to the high number of applications, we are unable to provide individual feedback.

Richmond Chambers LLP is an equal opportunities employer and fully complies with both SRA and BSB equality and diversity guidelines.