Criminal Solicitor
- We invite applications from energetic, enthusiastic applicants to join a close-knit team of experienced and committed defence solicitors. It is essential that the applicant shares the firm’s commitment to the protection and enhancement of civil liberties and a commitment to our clients.
- Your work would involve preparation and representation of cases in police stations, and Magistrates’ and Crown courts across a wide range of offences. You would often attend Crown court hearings with Counsel when appropriate. In more difficult and sensitive cases, you would work as part of a team with colleagues.
- We are seeking a supervisor who already meets the supervisor requirements of the LAA , although we will accept applications from people who have been working as a criminal solicitor and who are CLAS qualified but have not got a supervision qualification so long as they are willing to go on a supervisor course. We have a small department in which the majority of the fee earners are all of considerable years of experience and therefore require less frequent file reviews.
- If you have Higher Rights, advocacy would constitute a further aspect of the work – in pre-trial hearings and in trials if appropriately qualified, including potentially as a junior advocate in complex cases. If you don’t have higher rights we would support you to obtain such a qualification if you want to do so.
- The post will be for full time, five days a week (Monday to Friday) and become permanent after a successful six month probationary period. The salary offered will be on our pay scale which is fixed in accordance with the number of your post-qualification years.
- The starting date will be as soon as possible.
- Please send CV and covering letter to the Practice Manager Claire Sibley c.sibley@birnbergpeirce.co.uk
- Closing date close of business on 6th July 2026
Advertisement for Immigration Paralegal
We are a long-established London-based law firm focusing on protecting and advancing human rights. We are recruiting for an experienced paralegal with a desire to use their skills in difficult, cutting edge, sensitive, and often high-profile cases – mostly, but not exclusively, within the field of asylum, immigration and citizenship.
The duties will include file management, funding and legal aid compliance, form completion, client liaison, and administrative duties. Some of the work will relate to standard immigration and nationality matters, but there may also be opportunities to work on substantive legal casework tasks associated with complex and precedent setting litigation before the statutory tribunals, the higher courts, and in the European Court of Human Rights.
The Applicant
The work is on occasion very demanding and challenging. An ability to organise and plan your own work is essential, as is an ability to help your supervising solicitor organise and manage their work. We work as a small but close-knit team, often sharing responsibility for individual large cases between different solicitors. We are looking for a person with a long-term commitment to the role and will only consider applicants able to demonstrate a strong and proven commitment to the universality of human rights and the rule of law – even for those accused or convicted of the most serious offences.
Of importance are the following:
- A commitment to working hard, and maintaining focus and efficiency in a field that is pressured and where the stakes are high.
- Intelligence, discretion and diplomacy in dealing with confidential and sensitive issues.
- Ability confidently to work independently and pro-actively, equally recognising when this is appropriate and importantly, when it demands consultation.
- Exceptional organisational skills required to manage a demanding work-load, on occasion acute pressures triggered by the difficulties and crises of those we represent, and meeting court and Home Office deadlines.
- A high level of interpersonal and communication skills, especially in relation to our clients many of whom have communication difficulties, mental health problems, and other vulnerabilities.
- Ability to liaise effectively with others within and outside the firm.
- Ability and willingness to learn new skills quickly and adopt a flexible and collaborative approach to tasks.
Qualifications and experience
Essential: - Immigration and Asylum accreditation (or preparedness to become accredited quickly);
- High standard of general education;
- Very good IT skills (Word, Outlook, Excel, and PDF applications) and internet literacy;
- Excellent written English grammar and spelling;
- Exceptional attention to detail/accuracy;
- Accurate typing (60wpm minimum).
Desirable: - Relevant previous experience as a paralegal, or similar;
- Experience in Immigration and Asylum law;
- Experience of relevant immigration and legal aid online systems, including UKVI, MyHMCTS and HMCTS E-Filing
- A strong basic understanding of the UK legal system, especially in the area of immigration, citizenship and human rights;
- Familiarity with case management systems used in legal practices;
- Working knowledge of a language or languages other than English.
Hours
The post will be permanent for five days a week (Monday to Friday) after a successful six month probationary period. The role is office based, with flexibility to work from home one day a week. The salary will be offered depending on skills and experience circa £28,000 pa. Starting date will be as soon as possible.
Please forward your CV and covering letter to the Practice Manager Claire Sibley
email: sibleyc@birnbergpeirce.co.uk
Closing Date for applications: Friday 3rd July 2026