While being a lawyer unfortunately comes with high levels of stress, working in certain fields can be extremely rewarding. For those who are interested in human rights and international law, becoming an immigration lawyer could be the right choice. This job also covers other areas of law such as business law or criminal law.
But what do immigration lawyers do? What does it take to become a lawyer in this field and what’s involved in this career? We’ll take a closer look in that article.
What do immigration lawyer do?
As an immigration lawyer you will take on various cases that relate to immigration and will deal with nationality laws. You could work on human rights applications, visas or citizenship claims. Some firms have specialised in immigration law and offer valuable expertise that students can take advantage of when completing their training.
How do you become an immigration lawyer?
There are different paths to becoming a lawyer. While you may take the traditional three-year law degree course (LLB), some law firms now prefer students who specialized in a different subject during their undergraduate studies. By taking the so-called law conversion course for one year, they are then able to convert their studies. If you are interested in a certain subject such as history or engineering, you will be able to reach the same level as a student who took the LLB after completing the conversion course.
Studying to become a lawyer is not limited to university courses, but involves working in a legal office, such as that of a solicitor, barrister or licensed conveyancer. Training in a law firm is usually required for 2 years.
If you would like to work as a solicitor or a barrister, make sure to determine where you would like to practice before you begin your studies. Laws can differ in different parts of the UK, so it’s important to find a university that offers courses for the country you chose.
What skills do you need?
As an immigration lawyer you will need to have good communication skills, be able to pay attention to details very closely, be compassionate and enjoy working in a team. It is also important to be able to think outside the box and solve problems efficiently.
Immigration law is a very broad field. Although it can be incredibly competitive, it can also be very rewarding.
