About Justice First
Justice First was set up in 2006 in response to a lack of specialist legal advice and support for asylum seekers and refugees arriving in the Tees Valley.
The core purpose of Justice First remains to respond to the needs of people in the Tees Valley who are seeking asylum in the UK but have had their initial application rejected.
People in this position may have a very good case for asylum, but with nowhere else to turn, they often face destitution with no means of financial support.
This also includes supporting those seeking sanctuary with applications for protection-based settlement (indefinite leave to remain), family reunion applications and extensions of existing leave.
We are a specialist service in the North East that works closely with, and refers people to other supportive organisations as appropriate.
We offer specialist legal advice, practical and emotional support, community activities, volunteer befrienders, and deliver refugee awareness training, presentations, and talks.
Please come and see us if you need advice on your fresh asylum claim, refugee settlement application, family reunion application, or extension of discretionary leave. This includes advice and support with fee waiver applications, applying to have a no recourse to public funds restriction lifted, applications for child citizenship, and other immigration related enquiries.
Get Involved!
We would love to hear from you if you’d like to register to become a volunteer with Justice First.
We have a range of volunteering opportunities from regular involvement to one-off events and activities.
Our vision is of a society based on a tradition of welcoming, acceptance and dignity for those who seek safety in the UK
Support and Services
Our clients come from some of the most troubled regions in the world. They are typically fleeing violence, war, oppression and discrimination.
They have come to the UK seeking safety and a chance to start afresh and make a new life for themselves.
In order to be allowed to remain here, asylum seekers must prove to the Home Office that it is dangerous for them to return to their country of origin. Refugees often escape their country of origin with no documentation that can prove their nationality, age, religion or ethnicity.
The oppression that they are fleeing may be racial or religious, or because of their sexual orientation or political affiliation. It is often not easy to prove that they face danger should they return and many fail to do so at their first attempt. Asylum seekers in this position are not eligible for legal aid and often feel desperate and trapped into hiding from officialdom and tempted into entering the illegal economy as their only means of survival.
Justice First works to encourage them to re-engage with the legal process and supports them with advice from qualified specialists in immigration law and with practical help. Justice Frist promotes its services through other organisations and charities on Teesside that support refugees and asylum seekers and many, if not most, of our clients, find out about us through word of mouth – the recommendation of others who have used our services.
We do not employ lawyers, but our staff have been trained in relevant legal areas of migration law and Justice First is OISC (Office of Immigration Services Commissioner) level 2 registered. The expertise of our staff is widely recognised. It is important for them to keep up to date with recent changes in legislation and regulations and, in particular, the growing importance of the use of Article Eight of the Human Rights Act, which protects the right to respect for a private life, family life, and a home. This can be used by asylum seekers who have children in the UK to build a case for them to be granted leave to remain here, but they cannot receive legal aid to pay a lawyer to act for them. This is an area of work in which demand is growing.
Please call our office on 01642 601122 or via email at info@justicefirst.org.uk for further information or to make an appointment.
You can also reach us on Twitter or Facebook
Justice First Client Feedback
“Your strong support, your constant words of peace, encouragement and calmness helped in more ways to keep my children and I going through this journey, more than you can ever imagine.”
“Our success story is not complete without you and the Justice First team. We say thank you more than words can explain. We will never forget your kindness and will surely remember you in our prayers, thank you again.”
“I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you to you and your truly professional team for all the hard work towards presenting my case. You’ll always be my role model and a dear friend and a true gentleman. I am now a proud member of this great national and a greater community.”
“I am grateful very much for such a voluntary organisation. Their kindness makes me believe in all good positive things. And I hope one day I could join them in helping more people without conditions.”
“They are a very helpful organisation who help Asylum seekers who have no Solicitors. They’re straight to the point about whether they can help you or not. While you’re there, they offer you snacks, tea or coffee and if you are destitute, they can even help with clothes and food through another charity. Very wonderful bunch of people there.”
“Great team with huge empathy. God bless you. You helped me indirectly and I am very grateful and humble.”
“Outstanding service received today regarding my ILR application. The advisor has excellent communication skills. Very responsive and helpful.”
Our Ongoing Mission!
Unfortunately, the wars, oppression and violence in many Asian, African and Middle Eastern countries, that are driving people to leave and seek sanctuary elsewhere show no sign of abating. As Justice First builds its reputation as a reliable and trusted source of help and advice for asylum seekers, so the demand for our work grows.
Justice First Socials
Justice First
Our vision is of a society based on a tradition of welcome, acceptance and dignity for those who seek
Good speaking to Jason at BBC about the shortage of Legal aid. But a 15% increase in providers in the last year - is that true?? @NELawCentre @JoWilding1 @imix
We've collaborated with a journalist to delve into the critical issue of the legal aid crisis and its profound impacts.
Thank you to the BBC for covering this important issue!
#LegalAid #LegalAidCrisis #AccesstoJustice #LegalRepresentation
The new income requirement for family visas comes into effect today. Our estimates suggest that 50% of employees don't earn enough to bring a foreign partner to UK under this initial phase. By 2025, when phase 3 starts, this figure could rise to 70% 👉
