Legal Justice Solicitors

22/05/2026

For most asylum seekers, the primary way to access regulated legal advice is through government-funded legal aid that provides advice and representation to those who cannot afford a solicitor. However, many areas of civil law (e.g. immigration) have been disqualified from the scheme for many years now, particularly since the 2012 Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act (LASPO), and what remains eligible is financially unsustainable for providers as fees have not kept up with costs. As a result, providers have been leaving the market, creating expanding ‘legal aid deserts’ in England and Wales. For example, between 2005-2018, the number of immigration and asylum legal aid providers dropped by 56%. Recent data shows that there is a legal aid deficit in every region of England and Wales, including London.

Consequently, legal aid is largely inaccessible. In 2022-23, around 63% of the population in England and Wales did not have access to immigration and asylum legal aid in their area. And at least 51% (37,450 people) of asylum applicants were not able to find a legal aid lawyer. A refugee support organisation in the East of England that took part in our research said the Home Office’s asylum dispersal policy which often houses asylum seekers in remote rural areas further limits their access to legal services.

Some are fortunate enough to have access to free legal advice from third sector organisations such as RAMA in Colchester or from Law Centres. Their advisers are IAA / SRA regulated but often struggle to keep up with increasing demand.

But there are parts of the country where there is no paid for or free legal advice. This creates an advice vacuum. This, coupled with long wait times (sometimes years) for a decision on asylum claims, leaves people at risk.

12/05/2026

Wilson Solicitors reported on Monday that the High Court has granted permission for a full judicial review of the Home Office's policy guidance on assessing "good character" in applications for British citizenship. The case will be heard over three days, from 9 to 11 June 2026, before the Divisional Court, which considers judicial reviews raising issues of significant public importance. A written judgment is expected several months after the hearing.

27/03/2026

Afghan Calendar can be found at this link

Information on the types of calendars used in Afghanistan.

18/03/2026

AFGHANISTAN TB TEST

Approved clinic

Afghanistan Health Assessment Centre

AHAC clinic
Motahar Hospital
Qalai Fathullah
St 12 PD-10 Kabul

Telephone: +93(0)705 777 284, +447534818353

Email: [email protected]

Website: https://www.ahac.me

Operating hours: Sunday to Thursday, 8am to 4pm

11/03/2026

From 2 March 2026 refugee status in the UK became temporary rather than permanent. This dramatic change is the Home Secretary’s attempt to deter asylum seekers. Denmark adopted a similar policy in 2015 and has seen a fall in applications.

01/03/2026

A. Are you an Appellant who had her asylum claim refused. Are you without a lawyer. We have come across many asylum seekers who have approached Legal Aid Lawyers but have not managed to secure one due to the increase in the volume of work and less trained Immigration case workers and Solicitors. If your a woman from Pakistan and have an outstanding asylum claim and are representing youself, then the below may assist you prepare your case. Remember the below is only a sample and you will have to tailor this to your case.

B. LEGAL FRAMEWORK
1. Membership of a Particular Social Group (PSG)
The leading UK authority confirms that women in Pakistan constitute a PSG where the state fails to provide protection from gender‑based violence.

🔗 Islam & Shah (House of Lords)
https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld199899/ldjudgmt/jd990325/islam04.htm

The judgment recognises that Pakistani women face systematic discrimination and that failure of state protection + gender‑based harm = Refugee Convention persecution.

2. Sufficiency of Protection (Horvath test)
A state must provide practical and effective protection—not merely laws on paper.

🔗 Horvath v SSHD
https://www.refworld.org/jurisprudence/caselaw/gbrhl/2000/en/99406

Protection is insufficient where enforcement is weak, inconsistent, or inaccessible to women.

3. Internal Relocation (SM & KA Country Guidance)
Country Guidance confirms that single women or women without family support face undue hardship across Pakistan.

🔗 SM (lone women – ostracism) Pakistan CG
https://www.refworld.org/sites/default/files/legacy-pdf/en/2016-2/56b34bd74.pdf
🔗 KA and Others (domestic violence – risk on return) Pakistan CG
https://tribunalsdecisions.service.gov.uk/utiac/2010-ukut-216
Key findings:

Pakistan remains highly patriarchal. Domestic violence remains widespread. Shelters are insufficient, short‑term, and can involve forced separation from children. Relocation may be unduly harsh without male/family support.

C. COUNTRY EVIDENCE

1. Home Office CPINs (Official Government Material)
CPIN acknowledges Pakistan has pervasive gender‑based violence, and internal relocation only works for women with family or male support. This does not apply to the Appellant.

🔗 CPIN: Women fearing GBV (2025)
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pakistan-country-policy-and-information-notes/country-policy-and-information-note-women-fearing-gender-based-violence-pakistan-november-2022-accessible

🔗 CPIN: Internal Relocation (2024)
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pakistan-country-policy-and-information-notes/country-policy-and-information-note-internal-relocation-pakistan-july-2024-accessible

2. US State Department Reports
The 2024 Human Rights Report records:

Widespread violence against women,
Weak rule of law,
Police corruption and impunity,
Failures to protect victims.

🔗 US State Department Human Rights Report: Pakistan 2024
https://www.state.gov/reports/2024-country-reports-on-human-rights-practices/pakistan/

3. Human Rights Watch / HRCP
Document persistent:

Domestic violence,
Institutional failures,
Lack of enforcement of protective laws.

🔗 Human Rights Watch 2024 Pakistan
https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2024/country-chapters/pakistan
🔗 HRCP – State of Human Rights in Pakistan 2024
https://hrcp-web.org/hrcpweb/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/2025-State-of-Human-Rights-in-2024-REV.pdf

4. Academic & NGO Research
Research shows DV laws have little practical effect due to:

Social norms,
Stigma,
Low enforcement,
Victim retaliation.

🔗 Domestic Violence Laws & Social Norms (Trinity College 2024)
https://www.tcd.ie/Economics/TEP/2024/TEP0324.pdf
🔗 Women Protection Laws – Enforcement Problems (2024)
https://ojs.jdss.org.pk/journal/article/download/1287/1204/2038

D. APPLICATION TO THE APPELLANT

As an example, the Appellant is a Pakistani woman who left her husband—placing her in a high‑risk social category recognised by Shah & Islam and by Country Guidance.

She faces:

Death threats from influential in‑laws,
Total rejection by her family,
Zero social protection.

2. No Adequate State Protection

The police in Pakistan frequently dismiss domestic and honour‑related violence as "family matters". Corruption and impunity worsen the problem.
USSD 2024 and HRW show authorities rarely act, confirming protection is illusory, not real.

3. Internal Relocation Is Not Reasonable
Under SM & KA CG:

A lone young woman without family support cannot safely or reasonably relocate.

She cannot financially survive, secure accommodation, or avoid detection.

Shelters are unsafe, short‑term, and not a long‑term solution.

Therefore, internal relocation is unduly harsh and unsafe.

4. Article 3 ECHR
Even if Refugee Convention grounds fail (they do not), returning her would expose her to:

Serious domestic violence,
Honour killing risk,
Inhuman/degrading treatment,
Socio‑economic destitution.

E. CONCLUSION
The Appellant faces a real risk of persecution for reasons of gender‑based harm and lack of state protection.
She therefore qualifies for:
✅ Refugee Status
OR
✅ Humanitarian Protection
OR
✅ Article 3 ECHR Protection

F. SOURCE LIST (All Hyperlinks)
To make sharing easier, here is a clean list:

Islam & Shah (HL) – https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld199899/ldjudgmt/jd990325/islam04.htm
Horvath v SSHD – https://www.refworld.org/jurisprudence/caselaw/gbrhl/2000/en/99406
SM (lone women) Pakistan CG –https://www.refworld.org/sites/default/files/legacy-pdf/en/2016-2/56b34bd74.pdf
KA (domestic violence) Pakistan CG – https://tribunalsdecisions.service.gov.uk/utiac/2010-ukut-216
CPIN Women fearing GBV – https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pakistan-country-policy-and-information-notes/country-policy-and-information-note-women-fearing-gender-based-violence-pakistan-november-2022-accessible
CPIN Internal Relocation – https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pakistan-country-policy-and-information-notes/country-policy-and-information-note-internal-relocation-pakistan-july-2024-accessible
US State Department 2024 – https://www.state.gov/reports/2024-country-reports-on-human-rights-practices/pakistan/
HRW 2024 – https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2024/country-chapters/pakistan
HRCP 2024 –https://hrcp-web.org/hrcpweb/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/2025-State-of-Human-Rights-in-2024-REV.pdf
Domestic Violence Laws Study –https://www.tcd.ie/Economics/TEP/2024/TEP0324.pdf
Women Protection Laws Enforcement Issues – https://ojs.jdss.org.pk/journal/article/download/1287/1204/2038

17/02/2026

Notice to Prospective Clients

At Legal Justice Solicitors, we remain firmly committed to supporting individuals seeking asylum and access to justice. For many years, we have proudly assisted a significant number of clients under the Legal Aid scheme.

However, due to the continued limitations in Legal Aid funding and the unprecedented volume of asylum applications and appeals currently being handled by our firm, we have taken the considered decision to temporarily pause the acceptance of new Legal Aid asylum matters. This measure is necessary to ensure that we can dedicate appropriate time, care, and resources to our existing clients and maintain the high standard of representation for which we are known.

Please note:
• We are not currently accepting new Legal Aid asylum applications or asylum appeals.
• We are also not taking on new asylum appeals at this time, as we focus on progressing our existing caseload.
• We are continuing to accept new instructions on a private fee-paying basis.

This is a temporary pause, and we will review the position in the coming months.

If you wish to discuss a new matter on a private basis, please contact our office on:

📞 0114 249 4744

We appreciate your understanding and remain committed to delivering professional, high-quality legal services to all our clients.

16/02/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1C8RRKq3xE/?mibextid=wwXIfr

06/02/2026

Immigration Offences and criminal offences

A new Memorandum of Understanding between The Crown Prosecution Service, Immigration Enforcement, the National Crime Agency and National Policing on Immigration Crime has been published. It is dated 5 January 2026 although the final signature, that of Grace Ononiwu CBE of the Crown Prosecution Service, is dated 21 January 2026.

The memo covers illegal entry, including by asylum seekers, the new offence of endangering another during a sea crossing and assisting illegal entry.

Factors against prosecution include whether the offence “was committed as a necessary part of an asylum seeker’s journey to the UK and the statutory defence set out in s.31 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 applies”. Aggravating factors include the “level of culpability involved in securing illegal entry”, entering repeatedly or in breach of a deportation order, evidence of violence or harm to others, including against the French authorities and evidence of criminal offending.








Institutions & Enforcement






Substance of the MoU







Human Rights & Safeguards






Professional / Commentary Tone

The memo covers illegal entry, including by asylum seekers, the new offence of endangering another during a sea crossing and assisting illegal entry.

06/02/2026

All three African countries that Britain threatened with Trump-style visa sanctions for refusing to take back illegal migrants have agreed to co-operate.

More than 3,000 illegal migrants and criminals originally from Namibia, Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are to have their deportations fast-tracked.

Shabana Mahmood, the home secretary, gave them a month to start co-operating or face a sliding scale of penalties that would have culminated in a ban on visas for their citizens

Namibia and Angola caved in almost straight away but the DRC has agreed only in the past few days after Britain stripped preferential visa treatment from its VIPs. It also revoked fast-track visa processing services for all DRC citizens.

A charter flight returned the first group of people to Namibia last month, The Times has been told, and the first returns flight to Angola is due this month. A flight to the DRC is being planned and officials hope it will remove the first people next month.

All three African countries that Britain threatened with Trump-style visa sanctions for refusing to take back illegal migrants have agreed to co-operate.

More than 3,000 illegal migrants and criminals originally from Namibia, Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are to have their deportations fast-tracked.

Shabana Mahmood, the home secretary, gave them a month to start co-operating or face a sliding scale of penalties that would have culminated in a ban on visas for their citizens.

• Shabana Mahmood’s asylum seeker policy reforms: the key points

Namibia and Angola caved in almost straight away but the DRC has agreed only in the past few days after Britain stripped preferential visa treatment from its VIPs. It also revoked fast-track visa processing services for all DRC citizens.

A charter flight returned the first group of people to Namibia last month, The Times has been told, and the first returns flight to Angola is due this month. A flight to the DRC is being planned and officials hope it will remove the first people next month.

Mahmood said the outcome proved that the threat of sanctions was an effective way of forcing a shift in co-operation. She is preparing to formally threaten other countries who are resisting efforts to deport illegal migrants and foreign criminals.

Figures published by the Home Office show that the number of people removed from the UK — forcibly and voluntarily — is higher than for a decade. A total of 38,078 people with no right to be in the UK were removed last year, the highest number since 2016, when 40,377 were removed.

Mahmood said: “If foreign governments refuse to accept the return of their citizens, then they will face consequences. Illegal migrants and dangerous criminals will now be removed and deported back to Angola, Namibia and the Democratic Republic of Congo. I will do what it takes to restore order and control to our borders.”

India, Pakistan, Nigeria, Bangladesh, Somalia and Gabon are believed to be the other countries most resistant to taking back illegal migrants, and may be threatened with visa sanctions this year.

However, threatening visa sanctions against countries such as India or Pakistan would risk a diplomatic row given the large numbers of their nationals who travel to the UK each year and the close links with the Commonwealth nations.

The Conservatives accused Labour of trying to con the public by including voluntary returns in the numbers, which make up the majority of all returns.