Paragon Law

Detention and Deportation

Karen Halliwell is a qualified immigration solicitor and Law Society accredited supervising senior caseworker. Specialising in all elements of deportation and detention-related issues. Karen regularly advises on highly complex cases and her expertise is recognised by excellent working relationships with solicitors in the criminal field, as well as the Probation Service.

Karen has been working in the field of immigration law since 2007. Initially trained at Paragon Law, Karen qualified as a solicitor in 2017. Prior to this, she had already gained extensive experience as a senior caseworker dealing with a variety of immigration cases.

Karen Halliwell has experience in all areas of immigration law, including protection claims, spouse and child related applications (in country and entry clearance) and judicial review applications. Her main areas of focus is dealing with personal immigration, detention and deportation matters, on which she has represented clients with complex immigration issues from initial stages through to the Court of Appeal. Karen has a particular specialism in deportation and advising clients on applications based on protection or human rights issues.

Karen regularly advises pro bono at community engagement events held provided by immigration removal centres and at local not for profit organisations.

Aside from her experience in immigration law, Karen also has a working knowledge of criminal law in the magistrates court and the Magistrates Sentencing Guidelines, which makes her uniquely experienced to advise on the crossover between criminal and immigration law.

Areas Of Work Advising foreign national prisoners and their families on deportation-related issues, including preparing and submitting representations in response to one-stop notices, challenging deportation decisions, and making human rights claims. Preparing appeals in the First-tier and Upper Tribunals, and assisting with the preparation and submission of bail applications, addressing electronic monitoring issues, and securing amendments to bail conditions. Advising and preparing applications to the High Court and Upper Tribunal on behalf of detainees in cases of unlawful detention, including seeking damages and compensation. Creating applications to revoke deportation orders, and supporting individuals facing administrative removal and re-entry bans. Assisting with injunctions and interim relief applications to prevent forced removals, and handling judicial review applications related to all aspects of immigration law. Advising on and preparing representations against the revocation of refugee status, and supporting with restricted leave applications. Assisting applicants in claiming protection status for both adults and Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children, while providing guidance on settlement protection applications. Assisting with applications for regularisation and extensions of leave across all immigration matters, including partner, child, and family reunion applications. Supporting clients with naturalisation and deprivation of naturalisation cases, including appealing decisions to deprive citizenship.

English (United Kingdom) and French

Accredited under The Law Society's Immigration and Asylum Accreditation Scheme (IAAS) as a Supervising Senior Caseworker.

Member of the Immigration Law Practitioners' Association (ILPA).

The University of Hull - Law alongside French (LLB/Hons) [2000 - 2004]

The College of Law York - Post graduate diploma (LPC) [2004 - 2005]

Spending time with family, walking, travel, parent governor at a local primary school, amongst other community -based voluntary positions.