Immigration Solicitors

Toufique Hossain, director of public law at Duncan Lewis Solicitors, has been featured in The Times, addressing the urgent need for increased government funding for legal aid in asylum cases. The article spotlights a case brought by Duncan Lewis against the government, led by  Toufique  alongside Jeremy Bloom, Nina Kamp and Elizabeth Cole, with Chris Buttler KC, Eleanor Mitchell, and Jack Boswell of Matrix Chambers acting as counsel. The case challenges the stagnation of legal aid rates, which have remained unchanged since 1996—a real-terms reduction of 48%.

Toufique emphasised the vital role of adequate funding in addressing the asylum backlog, stating, “The government needs to accept that a key part of sorting out the asylum backlog, to ensure a just and fair system, is to create a sustainable system in which to operate.

“Without it, we will continue to see many legal aid firms falling away, less representation for those who need it, bigger backlogs in the system, and a never-ending cycle of claims and appeals which cost the taxpayer more than any functional system ever could.”

This funding gap has had widespread effects on the asylum system. In 2009, 98,311 immigration legal aid cases were taken on, but that number has plummeted to just 41,682 this year, despite a record high of 81,130 asylum claims in 2022. With fewer legal aid lawyers available, asylum seekers often face prolonged waits for representation, further contributing to delays in the appeals process.

The government has acknowledged the need for reform, with a source confirming plans to increase legal aid funding beyond inflation to address years of neglect.

The full article can be read here: Government pledges millions in legal aid to clear asylum backlog | The Times

Public Law Toufique Hossain is recognised by both The Legal 500 and Chambers UK legal directories as a leading figure in the area of immigration and public law, with extensive experience litigating across a broad range of areas and conducting high profile class-action challenges to unlawful policies and practices that affect vulnerable individuals. Working predominantly under legal aid, the majority of his clients are asylum-seekers with many of them being victims of torture, sexual abuse, and trafficking. He remains committed to fighting for their right to liberty and to be granted refuge from persecution. For advice or assistance on a public law mater, contact Toufique by email at ToufiqueH@duncanlewis.com, or via telephone at 02031141128.

About Our Public Law Team

Duncan Lewis has the leading public law and immigration practice in the UK. The team frequently takes on and successfully brings challenges in some of the most high profile cases in the UK, including in relation to the Rwanda plan and Manston House. The company was recently crowned Law Firm of the Year 2024 at the LexisNexis awards, and noted for its commitment to providing justice for all.

Duncan Lewis is renowned for its exceptional legal services and commitment to justice. The company employs a team of highly skilled solicitors offering top-tier representation in 25 fields of law, and ranked as top tier by the Chambers and Partners and the Legal 500 legal guides, and as one of the top 250 law firms in the country by the Times.