Francesca Dickens Email & Phone Number

London Area, United Kingdom

London, England, United Kingdom

I worked at Imran Khan & Partners as a paralegal (civil liberties & human rights). I worked extensively in actions against the police, inquests and public inquiries, particularly the Grenfell Tower Fire Inquiry and corresponding civil litigation.

Swansea, Wales, United Kingdom

My daily work as a paralegal involved proactive management of a large caseload of immigration and asylum matters, including appeals and judicial review claims. I took instructions from vulnerable clients, including victims of torture, victims of modern slavery and clients without capacity to instruct. When urgent matters arose, I had to adapt to ensure that deadlines were met and to protect the interests of clients in precarious positions. I developed a keen eye for detail and consistently ensured that my files were run within the strict parameters of the Legal Aid Agency regulations. I worked methodically to ensure that my clients’ cases were thoroughly prepared. As a qualified level 2 senior caseworker, I represented clients before the First-tier Tribunal in case management and immigration bail hearings. Whilst working as a paralegal, I obtained a distinction in the GDL and studied the Bar Practice Course part-time (first year). In order to manage these commitments, I have developed excellent time management and organisational skills.

Lésvos, Northern Aegean, Greece

During this time, I advised asylum seekers on their legal rights. I communicated effectively with clients from a vast range of backgrounds, including children, victims of torture and trafficking, people who required an interpreter and people who suffered significant mental health problems such as PTSD and depression. The Legal Centre advocates against the increasingly common practice of ‘pushbacks’, which is when the Greek state forcibly return boats arriving with displaced people on board. I assisted my colleagues in preparing applications in two separate cases before the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR), both of which later passed the admissibility stage in the ECtHR’s judicial procedure. We obtained successful outcomes in interim measures applications for client's with urgent health needs.

Vienna, Austria

I worked on the Global Action against Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants Project (GLO.ACT) and conducted normative research into various different dimensions of human trafficking and migrant smuggling offences, including gender-based perpetration and aggravated smuggling instances across the Mediterranean migration route.

Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands

I taught English at both beginner (A1) to intermediate (C1) level. I taught both in-person prior to the pandemic and online throughout the period of working from home. My lessons were fun, engaging and I hoped to encourage my students to continue to learn their new language.

Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands

I co-wrote an expert legal opinion for the Court of Justice of the European Union on the rights of refugees recognised in different European Member States prior to their removal to that Member State.

Weymouth Sailing Academy (2012 Olympic Sailing Venue)

I trained and competed alongside the British Olympic Sailing squad as part of the Olympic Podium Potential Team. As a two woman team with Tilly James, we sailed the woman's Olympic sailing skiff, the 49er FX. We attained promising results in the Junior World Championships and placed 3rd U19. Prior to sailing the FX, I represented Great Britain in 2014 EUROSAF Championships (Gdynia, Poland) in the Laser Radial and placed first female at numerous events in the Topper, including the British Inlands Championship in Grafham, 2012.

Bar Practice Course, Law, Outstanding

Graduate Diploma In Law, Law, Distinction

Master Of Laws - Llm, International Migration And Refugee Law, 8.4 (Cum Laude)

Activities and Societies: Legal Researcher for the Migration Law Clinic

Bachelor Of Laws - Llb, European Law, 8.3

Activities and Societies: Amnesty International Board Member English Tutor at Refugee Project Maastricht Erasmus at Vienna University.

Education record

Activities and Societies: I began an Amnesty International Club for younger students.I have a strong academic record (10 GCSE's A* and 3.