Immigration Associate (1-3 PQE)

About Withers

A law firm focused on people, performance, and collaboration.

For the past 125 years, we have supported some of the world’s most remarkable people and organizations at defining moments in their lives.

As the global private client firm, we are trusted advisors to families, founders, fiduciaries and businesses – and more than this, to governments, charities and financial institutions. We structure, grow and preserve capital. We protect reputations and relationships, ideas and innovations. We secure our clients' legacies across generations. We are united in our commitment to integrity, quality and collaboration. We have a culture of high performance and deliver excellent service consistently across the firm. We provide tailored solutions built on trust and partner with our clients to achieve their goals.

Many of our clients are shaping the future and creating solutions to tackle many of the world’s problems. It makes for a fascinating and challenging practice.

Our role is to get to know each individual client, find out where they want to be, and help them to get there – whether they are building a business, buying a home or protecting and defending their interests.

To meet their unique needs we are exceptionally collaborative, working together across teams and time zones. And we are agile – focusing on strategy rather than rigid ideas and traditional hierarchy.

We are delighted that we have been awarded Mansfield Certification Plus in relation to our recruitment and leadership progression efforts in the US and UK. This certification is an encouraging milestone as we continue to champion diversity within our organization and in the wider legal sector.

Join us to be part of a team that is always looking to the future. Where initiative, big ideas and bold moves are always encouraged. Where you can truly be yourself.

The Department

Withers' Immigration Team is experienced in advising our clients, comprising both individuals and businesses, with complex and sophisticated issues. We work seamlessly across the breadth of Withers' practices and multiple jurisdictions, to offer bespoke, high quality and innovative solutions tailored to our clients' unique and global needs. 

Our team is well regarded by all the leading directories and has developed a reputation for excellence and timely, solutions focused advice.

The Role

An exceptional opportunity now exists for a 1-3 PQE Associate to join Withers'  UK Immigration Team. 

This role will report directly into an Immigration Partner, and the Associate will assist our clients with:

• personal applications for HNW individuals, founders/entrepreneurs and exceptionally talented individuals
• support with sponsor licence applications, sponsor licence management on an ongoing basis, advising on sponsor and right to work compliance, certificates of sponsorship
• advising on and preparing all types of personal applications from visit, student, high potential individual and other categories through to judicial review
• personal applications for family members, dependants, children including for same-sex partners and surrogate and adopted children, often on a discretionary basis or with complex elements
• e-Visa and Electronic Travel Authorisation registrations
• strategic immigration support to HNW family offices
• complex and late applications under EU Settlement Scheme, including EUSS family permits
• British citizenship and UK passport applications including discretionary applications due to complex histories or excess absences.

As with representing clients on personal immigration matters, our team is able to coordinate the delivery of the highest level of multi-disciplined professional services in conjunction with Withers’ partners in any of our international offices.

The successful candidate will be offered one to one contact with a leading partner, as part of a high performing, well respected and collaborative team, will be encouraged and supported with technical and personal development and given access to Withers' outstanding resources, on a global basis.

Key Skills and Experience

• Excellent academics at degree and post-graduate level (or equivalent)
• Must be admitted to practice in England & Wales with 1-3 PQE
• Demonstrable significant pre- and post-qualification experience in corporate, personal and high net worth immigration matters from a reputable specialist UK immigration practice
• Demonstrable technical acumen in terms of knowledge of the Immigration Rules, policy and practical knowledge of preparing and submitting UK immigration applications both in the UK and globally from outside the UK
• Must have significant working experience in sponsor licence applications, sponsor licence management, compliance and audit, personal visa applications across all categories (including Appendix FM, settlement and Global Talent applications)
• Excellent communication and drafting skills, additional languages are a bonus
• Excellent attention to detail and information retention and tracking
• Ability to demonstrate initiative, proactive follow through, and excellent organisation and prioritisation skills
• Must be driven and able to juggle competing priorities, ensuring delivery for clients is paramount

Essentials

• Working hours: 9.30am – 5.30pm, noting flexibility around these hours is essential to this role
• Hybrid working with three days per week in the London office
• Flexible benefits package

Information for Recruitment Agencies

Withers endeavours to recruit and fill vacancies directly. However, when we do need to engage with agencies, Withers operates a preferred supplier list and will not be accepting unsolicited applications from non-PSL agencies for this role.

Equal Opportunities Employment Statement 

It is the policy of Withers to provide equal opportunities for all employees in relation to recruitment, training, and promotion. Decisions in these areas will be made only by reference to the requirements of the job and shall not be influenced by any consideration of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, race (including colour, nationality and ethnic and national origin), religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.