Martin Priestley

Area of work: Community work
Employer: Refugee Legal Centre
Qualifications: BA economics and management, University of Oxford

9.30 am

I am a legal representative for asylum seekers who are applying for protection in the UK. I start the morning by checking my e-mails and preparing myself for the day. I work in an open-plan office with six to eight other people, so it’s easy to bounce questions off each other.

10.00 am

I often have an appointment with one of my clients in the morning. This is face to face with the help of an interpreter and can take up to three hours. After explaining the asylum process to my client, I ask questions to determine what has happened to them and the risks if they return to their previous country. Sometimes I hear distressing stories but clients can be fun to work with. I then offer them advice on their prospect of success. It is rarely as straightforward as this – clients have an amazing ability to surprise you!

1.00 pm

At lunchtime we have a kitchen area where we can eat lunch together but as we’re in the centre of Birmingham there’s no shortage of places to eat out.

2.00 pm

In the afternoon I aim to write up a draft witness statement from the instructions I have taken in the morning. I also research background evidence to support the client’s claim, write legal representations in support of their application and might discuss the case with the Home Office. If the Home Office refuses a client’s case, I have to prepare and present their appeal at court. I occasionally have to attend Home Office interviews or visit clients who are in prison or a detention centre.

4.00 pm

I leave the office anywhere between 4.00 pm and 9.00 pm, depending on my workload. I am willing to work late because the job is so enjoyable – there’s nothing more satisfying than securing someone’s safety in the UK. A smile of gratitude can’t help but lift your day.