Legal advice is available to SWVG from Jo Renshaw, a partner in Turpin and Miller, Oxford who specialises in asylum law Jo is highly qualified in immigration law and acts as our legal advisor. She helps us by:
- Scrutinising legal bills. She is able to look at legal bills of clients who may have complicated cases and say whether the amount is reasonable.
- Dealing with quick queries such as permission to work, volunteering, and family reunion. Quite often these queries are relevant to more than one client.
- Undertaking case assessment – visitors can ask for their client’s case to be assessed. The visitor needs to write a bit about the client in order to request a case review.
Jo Renshaw does NOT, except in very rare cases, act as solicitor for our clients. Her role is that of advisor to SWVG.
How to apply for help
There can be quite a lot of work when asking for a case assessment. All documents which the client has must be meticulously listed. Jo will request relevant document from solicitor in case. She reviews documents, does any necessary research and gives us her advice.
Whenever a request for a case review is made, the details are circulated to MAG members who decide whether to support the request.
Please send all legal queries or requests regarding your client’s case to the following e-mail address: admin@swvg-refugees.org.uk .
If, in an emergency, there is direct contact between a visitor and Jo then the visitor should inform admin@swvg-refugees.org.uk.
It’s crucial that all contact with Jo is made through admin@swvg-refugees.org.uk as we have to account for all use of Jo’s time
Financial Support
SWVG can also provide money for help with some legal matters (e.g. to pay for medical report) needed for clients.
If you wish to apply for financial support for your client on a legal related issue, ask any member of MAG.
If you have any requests for training relevant to this group, or suggestions for legal topics for a general meeting please contact admin@swvg-refugees.org.uk.