A series of six 90-minute webinars presented over three days on Zoom, all recorded for all delegates to access post-event.

This event is for those seeking to challenge discrimination and unfairness in the immigration system, using strategic legal research and policy work. The topics cover socio-economic discrimination to asylum and trafficking, and a how-to on running systemic cases to challenge unfairness in the immigration system as a whole.

The series is presented in partnership with the Immigration Law Practitioners’ Association (ILPA).

This training event is intended for:

  • Lawyers and advisers across immigration, human rights and public law
  • Those working on immigration policy, including in the Civil Service, Think Tanks, and Policy organisations, and researchers
  • Frontline immigration organisations

This course will help you:

  • Identify systemic and access to justice issues in immigration and asylum
  • Advocate for a more dignified and humane system in the future, and that lessons from the Hostile environment be learned
  • Challenge discrimination, poor decision making and delays in the immigration system

Ticket prices

  • Standard ticket: £110
    (for private practitioners, those working for governmental and regulatory bodies)
  • Discounted ticket: £85
    (for charities, voluntary sector, trainee lawyers)
  • Advisers ticket: £70
    (for those working in advice but not qualified solicitors, barristers or trainee lawyers)
  • If you work for an organisation with a very limited (or no) training budget, but would benefit from this training, please email PLP Events Team

Programme

Day 1: February 25, 2025

10:00-11:30: Is there such a thing as immigration law?

This panel will answer the question ‘is there such a thing as immigration law?’ taking into account the many different legal routes available to remedy injustice in the immigration system, including asylum law, human rights law, discrimination law, housing law, benefits, employment rights, trafficking, detention, international and public law. The panel will also ask what difference the answer to this question makes to migrants and access to justice.

  • Chair: Lee Marsons, Public Law Project
  • Sonali Naik KC, Garden Court Chambers
  • Colin Yeo, Garden Court Chambers and Free Movement
    Another speaker TBC

14:00-15:30: Socio-economic discrimination within the immigration system

This panel will look at a range of issues in which discriminatory practices can affect migrants, including income requirements in visa applications, NRPF on the family route; the ‘habitual residence’ test for Universal Credit, fee waivers for bereaved partners, ramifications of NHS charges (including refusal of healthcare, refusal of  immigration applications and detention at port), and local authority support while in asylum accommodation. 

  • Ollie Persey, Garden Court Chambers
  • Madeleine Sumption, The Migration Observatory
  • Christine Benson, Maternity Action
  • Florence Powell, The AIRE Centre
    More speakers TBC

Day 2: February 26, 2025

10:00-11:30: The Hostile Environment – lessons not learned

This panel will look at current, historic and potential mass impact injustices affecting migrants and ask what lessons need to be learned and acted on.  This will include The Windrush scandal, unlawful policies  digital immigration status, Home Office algorithms in decision-making; and ‘glitching’ immigration status. 

  • Jonah Mendelsohn, Privacy International
  • Nick Beales, RAMFEL
    More speakers TBC

14:00-15:30: Systemic cases from start to finish
This panel will provide a ‘how-to’ on systemic immigration cases from start to finish, from gathering evidence to following through on post-litigation. 

  • Alison Pickup, Asylum Aid
  • Natasha Simonsen, Blackstone Chambers
    More speakers TBC

Day 3: February 27, 2025

10:00-11:30: Failures and challenges of the asylum and trafficking system

The panel will take into account current opportunities and ongoing challenges, including in light of Government announcements on both investment and ‘streamlining’ systems for decision making, and what impact this will have on quality of decision making for migrants. 

  • Chair: Dr Jo Hynes, Public Law Project
  • Jeremy Bloom, Duncan Lewis
  • Nadia O’Mara, Garden Court Chambers
    More speakers TBC

14:00-15:30: How to build a just and dignified immigration system

The panel will look at both fundamental changes and reform, including to asylum accommodation, funding legal advice and casework, as well as looking ahead to the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill,  and any further expected policy changes in the immigration system.

  • Chair: Shameem Ahmad, Public Law Project
  • Zoe Bantleman, Immigration Law Practitioners Association (ILPA)
  • Dr David Cantor, Refugee Law Initiative
  • Toufique Hossain, Duncan Lewis
  • Eiri Ohtani, Right to Remain

For any ticket and programme queries please email the PLP Events Team.

Events

25 February 2025 - 27 February 2025
12:00 am

Book now

Standard Ticket

Price: £110.00
VAT: £0.00
Total: £110.00

Discounted Ticket

Price: £85.00
VAT: £0.00
Total: £85.00

Advisers Ticket

Price: £70.00
VAT: £0.00
Total: £70.00

Book a place

Ticket Type Price Spaces
Standard Ticket £110.00
Discounted Ticket £85.00
Advisers Ticket £70.00

Pay now via credit/debit card