Immigration Law Handbook

The tenth edition of the Immigration Law Handbook continues to bring together all the key materials relevant to Immigration and Asylum Law in one, essential reference tool for those practicing in the field. For practitioners undertaking The Law Society's Immigration and Asylum Accreditation Scheme, this is the only text allowed within the open-book exam.

This new edition includes the text of the Immigration Act 2016, which will make substantial changes to existing legislation. Other new texts provided includes a series of changes to the Immigration Rules made in 2016, such as the Immigration Act May 2016 that introduced new guidelines and sanctions on illegal workers and illegal migrants. Further additions to the Handbook provide coverage of the updated 2013 Practice Statement on Immigration Judicial Reviews of the Upper Tribunal, the Modern Slavery Act 2015, and the Transfer for Determination of an Application for International Protection Regulations 2017. This coverage of recent new legislation sits alongside existing important legislation to maintain the strengths of the handbook as a reference tool whilst providing the reader with up-to-date access to all new developments in a single volume. Useful links to online materials are provided to guide readers towards supplementary information.

The Immigration Law Handbook has established itself as the gold standard in the field and has become an invaluable resource for immigration practitioners including Asylum and Immigration Tribunal judges and barristers, and solicitors and caseworkers working in immigration, asylum, and human rights law.

Margaret Phelan, Tribunal Judge, First-Tier Tribunal, James Gillespie, Barrister (retired), Frances Allen, Barrister, Goldsmith Chambers, Julia Gasparro, Barrister, 1 Pump Court, Jo Swaney, Senior Solicitor; Judge, Coram Children's Legal Centre; First-Tier Tribunal

Margaret Phelan sits as a tribunal judge in the First-Tier Tribunal. She has edited the Immigration Law Handbook since the first edition.

James Gillespie practised as a barrister specialising in immigration, asylum, and nationality law for 16 years before retiring from the bar in 2009. He has also taught and lectured widely on immigration law. During his years of practice he was recognised as one of the leading practitioners in the field of immigration law by the Chambers and Partners Guide to the UK Legal Professions. Prior to going to the bar he spent 7 years working for the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants, advising on immigration law and representing clients in immigration appeals. He was a founder member of the Immigration Law Practitioners Association and served on its executive committee until 1992.


Frances Allen is a practising barrister at Goldsmith Chambers and has practised in immigration and asylum law since qualifying, having been attracted to the work because of her strong stance on human rights. She also represents interested persons at coroners' inquests.

Julia Gasparro is a practising barrister specialising in immigration and family law at 1 Pump Court. She was previously based at Rennaissance Chambers, where she worked alongside Margaret Phelan and James Gillespie. Prior to joining the Bar, Julia worked for the Immigration Advisory Service preparing and presenting appeals.


Jo Swaney is a senior solicitor at Coram Children's Legal Centre as well as a judge of the First-Tier Tribunal, sitting in the social entitlement (asylum support and social security) and immigration and asylum chambers. Jo has provided training on immigration and asylum law for Legal Action Group, and contributed to the Legal Update in the JCWI Bulletin (2007-2010) and the JCWI Guide to the Points Based System (2011). She is the Immigration Law Practitioners' Association representative on the Law Society Immigration law Committee.