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Immigration Legal Assistants play a vital role in the Canadian Immigration field and act as intermediaries between the client and the Immigration Lawyer or Consultant. While they cannot represent or take on applicants alone, they are responsible for the administrative and supportive work at immigration firms and are often the most involved with clients on a day-to-day basis. In the following article, we will outline five ways in which Immigration Legal Assistants support clients throughout their immigration journey.
By taking on administrative and supportive tasks and ensuring the smooth operations of the firm, legal assistants lighten the workload of Immigration Lawyers or Consultants. For instance, they assist in maintaining and processing applications, preparing forms, and writing legal documents in close collaboration with the client and legal professional. Their work increases the firm's overall productivity, allowing the team to support clients more effectively and, for instance, help the legal professional focus on representing an applicant before the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB).
Immigration Legal Assistants are often a client’s first and most frequent point of contact. They usually answer emails and phone calls and even attend meetings. When interacting with clients, Legal Assistants may answer questions, follow up on information, or update immigrants on their case’s progress. Their work in this area may also involve walking applicants through the various immigration forms, explaining existing challenges and processes and connecting immigrants and immigration professionals with the necessary resources. In working closely with both parties, Immigration Legal Assistants are the glue that holds the operations together, which requires excellent collaboration and interpersonal skills.
Immigration Legal Assistants help clients, as well as Immigration Professionals, stay organized and meet all necessary deadlines, as immigration law is often very time-sensitive. This may include sending reminders via email or phone and scheduling meetings. Efficient data management using case management systems while keeping client data highly confidential can also contribute to the firm staying on top of things. Finally, proofreading immigration documents either filled out previously by the applicant or lawyer is crucial since even minor mistakes can cause significant disruptions and complications in a person’s immigration journey, ranging from processing delays to accusations of misrepresentation. This can be avoided by paying great attention to detail and high accuracy.
The Canadian immigration process is not always straightforward and can often present challenges. At times, immigrants may feel overwhelmed or confused by the complexities of the process and the sheer volume of steps involved. As their primary point of contact, Immigration Legal Assistants can use their communication and people skills to provide emotional support and reassurance. If possible, they may even support clients in other areas. For instance, many immigrants to Canada may not speak English or French as their first language, which can lead to difficulties in understanding various immigration documents. Therefore, Legal Assistants may help them translate if they speak the client’s first language.
Research is another central responsibility of an Immigration Legal Assistant, as every case is unique, and factors such as citizenship or a client’s family situation can completely distinguish one case from another, even if all other factors remain the same. In addition, Canadian immigration law is subject to constant change, making thorough and regular research and staying up-to-date mandatory. Assistants acquire extensive legal knowledge through their work experience and education, such as completing the Immigration Legal Assistant Program at Ashton College. This expertise can help Immigration Legal Assistants research specific legal situations for the firm’s clients.
As outlined in this article, Immigration Legal Assistants support clients in various ways, which ensure clear and frequent communication between all parties, smooth operations of the firm, client success and increased overall productivity. If you are interested in becoming an Immigration Legal Assistant, it’s crucial to be aware of the above-presented points and ensure you possess the necessary skills to make a person’s immigration journey as smooth as possible.
The information contained in this post is considered true and accurate as of the publication date. However, the accuracy of this information may be impacted by changes in circumstances that occur after the time of publication. Ashton College assumes no liability for any error or omissions in the information contained in this post or any other post in our blog.
