Hiring and Sponsoring Legal associate professionals (SOC Code 3520)

Legal Associate Professionals, classified under SOC Code 3520, are essential contributors to the legal profession, working diligently to support the operations of legal chambers and enhance the delivery of legal services. Key responsibilities include:

• Managing Legal Practice: Runs chambers on behalf of principals, develops the practice, and manages the flow of work.
• Case Management: Decides which cases to accept and arranges appropriate fees, ensuring the smooth operation of legal proceedings.
• Administrative Duties: Prepares financial records, manages judges' diaries, and performs other essential administrative tasks.
• Document Preparation: Collates information, drafts briefs, and other legal documents necessary for court proceedings.
• Court Assistance: Attends court to assist barristers and solicitors in the effective presentation of cases.
• Regulatory Compliance: Ensures that the organization complies with relevant regulations and organizational policies.
• Probate and Common Law: Assists in all aspects of probate and common law practice, delivering comprehensive legal support.
• Legal Costs Management: Draws up schedules of legal costs and advises on the allocation of legal costs and the level of legal fees.

With the growing complexity of legal practices in the UK, the demand for skilled legal associate professionals continues to rise. This guide aims to assist HR professionals in navigating the process of hiring and sponsoring legal associate professionals within the UK's immigration framework.

What is SOC Code 3411 for Legal associate professionals?

SOC Code 3520 refers to legal associate professionals who provide essential support to solicitors and barristers within legal practices. Their responsibilities can include:

• Managing operations: Running chambers on behalf of principals and overseeing workflow management.
• Case management: Deciding which cases to accept and ensuring timely completion of work.
• Financial administration: Arranging appropriate fees and preparing financial records related to legal services.
• Documentation preparation: Collating information and drafting briefs and other legal documents.
• Court support: Attending court to assist barristers and solicitors in presenting cases effectively.
• Regulatory compliance: Ensuring the organisation adheres to relevant regulations and organizational policies.
• Probate and common law practice: Assisting in all aspects of probate law and common law matters.
• Cost management: Drawing up schedules of legal costs and advising on the allocation of legal fees and expenses.

Legal associate professionals are vital to the legal system, facilitating the delivery of justice and ensuring smooth operations within legal practices.

Eligibility to Hire Legal associate professionals (SOC Code 3411)

1. Job Requirements

Legal associate professionals must exhibit a strong understanding of legal principles and possess specific qualifications or experience criteria. These may include:

• Educational Background: A degree in law or equivalent qualifications is essential.
• Experience: Demonstrated experience in legal practice, particularly in managing chambers, conducting administrative duties, and assisting in court.
• Legal Knowledge: Proficiency in various areas of law, including but not limited to probate and common law practices.
• Documentation Skills: Ability to collate information, draft briefs and other legal documents efficiently.
• Organizational Skills: Capability to manage diaries, prepare financial records, and ensure compliance with relevant regulations and organizational policies.
• Communication Skills: Strong verbal and written communication skills necessary for collaborating with barristers and solicitors as well as interacting with clients.

Ensure the job description aligns with SOC Code 3520 and that the candidate's experience and qualifications meet the expectations for the role.

1. Salary Thresholds
2. Use the Minimum Salary Calculator to ensure your salary offer meets immigration requirements.

Sponsoring Legal associate professionals: A Step-by-Step Guide for HR Professionals

Once you’ve confirmed that the role and candidate meet the eligibility requirements, follow this step-by-step guide to sponsoring Legal associate professionals under SOC Code 3520.

Step 1: Obtain a Sponsor Licence

Before hiring non-UK Legal associate professionals, your company or institution must obtain a sponsor licence. This licence enables you to legally sponsor overseas Legal associate professionals under the Skilled Worker Visa program.

• Sponsor Licence Application: Submit documentation proving that your business is legitimate and has a genuine vacancy. Visit the sponsor licence application guide for more information. 
• Sponsor Licence Fees: Small businesses typically pay £574, while larger institutions pay £1,579. For more information, visit the sponsor licence fees guide. 
• Processing Time: Applications typically take up to 8 weeks, but using the Sponsor Licence Priority Service can reduce the processing time to 10 working days.

Once your sponsor licence is approved, you will receive a sponsor licence number, which allows you to assign Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS).

Step 2: Assign a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS)

Once you have your sponsor licence, the next step is to assign a CoS to the Legal associate professionals. This document provides key details about the job and the individual being sponsored.

• Defined vs Undefined CoS: Use a Defined CoS for Legal associate professionals applying from outside the UK, and an Undefined CoS for those already in the UK. Learn more in the Defined & Undefined Certificates of Sponsorship guide. 
• Required Documents: Provide details such as the Legal associate professionals’s portfolio, passport and job offer. Refer to Documents Required for Certificate of Sponsorship for a full list of necessary documents.

Step 3: Apply for the Skilled Worker Visa

Once the CoS is issued, the Legal associate professionals can apply for the Skilled Worker Visa.

• Visa Fees: Fees vary depending on the role and visa length—use the visa fees calculator to estimate the costs. 
• Immigration Skills Charge: Employers are required to pay this charge as part of sponsoring non-UK workers. This is separate from visa fees.

Conducting a Right to Work Check for Legal associate professionals

Before the Legal associate professionals begins working, you must conduct a right to work check to ensure they are legally allowed to work in the UK.

• Manual Right to Work Check: Verify original documents such as the Legal associate professionals’s passport and visa. 
• Online Right to Work Check: If the Legal associate professionals holds an eVisa, you can use the UK government’s online system to verify their right-to-work status.

For more details on how to perform these checks, see the right to work check guide.

Post-Hiring Responsibilities and Compliance

1. Record-Keeping and Reporting  
2. • Record-Keeping: Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of the Legal associate professionals’s employment details, salary and contact information. 
   • Reporting Changes: Report any significant changes to the Legal associate professionals’s role—such as promotions or salary increases—via the Sponsor Management System (SMS).
3. Sponsor Licence Duties and Compliance
4. Failure to comply with your sponsor licence duties can result in penalties or sponsor licence revocation, impacting your ability to sponsor future Legal associate professionalss.

How Borderless Can Help with Sponsoring Legal associate professionals

Sponsoring Legal associate professionals under SOC Code 3520 can be a complex process, but Borderless can simplify it for you. We offer comprehensive support to help you manage the entire sponsorship process.

End-to-End Sponsorship Support

At Borderless, we assist with:

• Sponsor Licence Application: Guiding you through the application process and ensuring all required documents are submitted correctly. 
• Certificate of Sponsorship Assignment: Streamlining the CoS process to make hiring easier. 
• Compliance Management: Helping you stay compliant with immigration laws to avoid penalties.

If you need assistance with hiring or sponsoring Legal associate professionals, get in touch for personalised support.

Conclusion

Hiring and sponsoring Legal associate professionals under SOC Code 3520 can be a rewarding way to enrich the cultural landscape of your organisation. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can successfully navigate the sponsorship process while ensuring compliance with UK immigration laws.

For further guidance, Borderless is ready to assist you with all your sponsorship needs. Contact us for expert advice.