Asylum & Protection
Asylum cases succeed or fail on detail. Not emotion, not general claims about your country’s problems, but specific evidence about why you personally cannot safely return.
After 13 years specializing in asylum law, we know what decision-makers look for. We know the three questions that sink most claims before they start. And we know that early, expert advice is the difference between a case that works and one that doesn’t.
We provide privately funded asylum representation for clients who can afford our services. If you’re looking for Legal Aid representation, we’ve created free self-help guides and can point you to Legal Aid providers.
Why Most Asylum Claims Fail (And How to Avoid It)
The Home Office refuses most asylum claims. But many of those refusals follow predictable patterns. Three issues cause more failures than everything else combined:
1. You’re fleeing a private threat, not the government
Gang violence. Family disputes. Criminal threats. These are real dangers, but the Home Office will ask: “Why can’t the police protect you?” Unless you can show specifically why state protection isn’t available or effective for you, your claim fails. We know how to demonstrate this.
2. You could move elsewhere in your country
“Why can’t you relocate to another city?” If the persecutor is local, if the police in another region function differently, if you have options within your country – the Home Office will refuse your claim. We help clients show why internal relocation isn’t safe or reasonable in their specific circumstances.
3. Your country has a functioning legal system
Many countries have corruption, ineffective police, or patchy rule of law. But that’s not enough. You need to show why the general legal system cannot or will not protect you specifically. We prepare evidence that addresses this directly.
These aren’t abstract legal concepts. They’re the concrete reasons why asylum claims get refused. Understanding them early shapes everything that follows.
What We Do
Initial Asylum Claims
An asylum claim is essentially a legal argument backed by evidence. The argument is: “I face persecution for a Convention reason, and my country cannot or will not protect me.”
Making that argument effectively requires:
- Evidence that’s specific, not generic – Country reports about general conditions aren’t enough. You need evidence about your specific situation and risk.
- A witness statement that addresses credibility concerns – Decision-makers will test your account for consistency, detail, and plausibility. We prepare statements that anticipate these challenges.
- Clear legal framing – Showing how your case fits within refugee law, not just describing hardship.
- Realistic assessment – Some cases are strong. Some are marginal. Some won’t succeed. We tell you which category you’re in and why.
We prepare asylum claims that engage with how decisions are actually made, not how we might wish they were made.
What to Expect
Asylum decision-making is slow and uncertain. Even strong cases take months or years. Weak cases rarely improve with time.
We focus on:
- Identifying what makes your case strong (or weak) from the outset
- Preparing evidence systematically, not reactively
- Addressing the three critical questions directly
- Giving you clear advice about prospects and timescales
Early advice matters. Many problems we see in refused claims could have been avoided if someone had looked at the case properly at the start.
After a Refusal: The Options Review
Most asylum claims get refused. Some refusals can be challenged successfully. Many cannot.
Before you commit to an appeal, pre-action letter, or judicial review, you need to know:
- Is there a realistic legal basis for challenge? Not every refusal is wrong. Some are legally sound and won’t be overturned.
- Can credibility findings actually be addressed? If the Home Office didn’t believe you, new evidence or better legal arguments rarely change that on appeal.
- What will this cost in money, time, and stress? Appeals take months. Judicial reviews take longer. Legal fees add up. And if you lose, you’re back where you started.
Our fixed-fee Options Review gives you a clear answer about what’s realistic.
What the Options Review Covers
This is a structured assessment of your case post-refusal:
- Whether an appeal, pre-action protocol letter, or judicial review has genuine prospects
- Whether certification can credibly be challenged
- What evidence is missing and whether it can realistically be obtained
- Whether a fresh claim or alternative route might be more appropriate
- The costs, risks, and likely timescales of each option
You receive a written opinion and a follow-up discussion explaining our assessment in plain language.
This is not litigation. It’s decision-making support. If we think further legal challenge would be a waste of your money and time, we will say so.
Why We Offer This
We’ve seen too many people spend thousands on appeals or judicial reviews that never had realistic prospects. We’ve seen unscrupulous advisers encourage litigation to generate fees, knowing the case will fail.
The Options Review exists so you can make an informed decision with your eyes open, rather than acting on hope or pressure.
Appeals and Further Challenges
Where there is a proper legal basis, we handle:
First-tier Tribunal Appeals
Appeals focus on whether the Home Office decision was wrong in law or made findings no reasonable decision-maker could reach. Success depends on evidence gaps, legal errors, or credibility findings that can be meaningfully challenged.
We prepare appeals methodically: – Detailed grounds of appeal that identify specific errors – Additional evidence that addresses gaps in your original claim – Witness statement preparation for tribunal hearings – Clear advice about what the tribunal can and cannot do
Pre-Action Protocol Letters and Judicial Review
Where the Home Office has acted unlawfully – failed to consider material evidence, made irrational findings, breached procedure – judicial review may be appropriate.
These cases are complex, expensive, and only succeed where there are clear legal errors. We take them on selectively.
Fresh Claims
If your circumstances have changed, or if new evidence has emerged since your refusal, you may be able to make a fresh claim. This isn’t just “trying again” – it requires material new evidence or a change in circumstances.
We assess whether you meet the threshold and whether submission is likely to be productive.
How We Work
1. Initial consultation
We discuss your situation, assess your case, and explain what we can realistically achieve. This is free and without obligation. Book via our website.
2. Clear advice about prospects
Some cases are strong. Some are marginal. Some won’t succeed. We tell you which category you’re in, why, and what that means for your options.
3. Fixed or capped fees
Asylum work is priced based on complexity. We explain costs upfront and cap fees where possible so you know what you’re paying.
4. Methodical preparation
We don’t rush. We prepare cases systematically, gathering evidence, drafting statements, and building arguments that engage with how decisions are actually made.
When You Don’t Need Us (But We Can Still Help)
We recognize that most asylum seekers cannot afford private legal fees. If you’re looking for Legal Aid representation:
- Find Legal Aid asylum solicitors via the Law Society directory
- Read our free asylum guides covering the claim and appeal process
- Contact refugee charities like Refugee Council, Freedom from Torture, or Right to Remain
We’ve created comprehensive self-help guides because we believe access to accurate information shouldn’t depend on ability to pay. While we can’t provide Legal Aid representation, we can help you understand the process.
What Makes Asylum Cases Succeed
Over 13 years, we’ve identified what separates successful asylum claims from failed ones:
Specificity
Generic fear isn’t enough. You need to show specifically why you are at risk, from whom, and why your country won’t protect you.
Evidence
Country reports show context. Medical reports show harm. Police reports show you sought protection. Witness statements from others show corroboration. All of this matters.
Credibility
Your account must be detailed, consistent, and plausible. Decision-makers test this rigorously. If your story has gaps, inconsistencies, or implausible elements, you need to address them directly.
Legal framing
Refugee law has specific requirements. Cases succeed when they engage with those requirements, not when they appeal to sympathy.
Realistic expectations
Hope isn’t a strategy. Some cases are strong and should be pursued. Some are weak and shouldn’t. Knowing the difference matters.
Next Steps
If you’re considering making an asylum claim, or if you’ve been refused and need to decide what to do next, we can help you think through your options.
For those seeking Legal Aid representation or free resources, visit our resources page for comprehensive self-help guides and links to Legal Aid providers.
Fees
Our asylum fees depend on the stage and complexity of your case:
- Initial asylum claims: Quoted based on complexity after initial consultation
- Options Review (post-refusal assessment): Fixed fee
- Appeals: Capped fees in most cases
- Pre-action and JR: Quoted case-by-case
Full fee details are on our Fees page.