Christopher Levingston Blog

I am happy to announce a new initiative, in conjunction with Legal Training Australia, Migration Alliance and Christopher Levingston and Associates to provide expert, professional and  independent advice to both RMAs and their clients in respect of any adverse decision at the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT).

I have set up a dedicated website:

http://www.theclearinghouse.com.au/

This website has clear instructions about what the procedure is to access a free legal opinion.

I have now been in practice since 1986 and was first admitted as a Barrister in 1986 and a Solicitor in 1989.

Prior to that I had worked in the APS with a period of time spent at the Department of Immigration in theInvestigations Branch as Senior Investigator.

I have been in practice giving Immigration Assistance since 1988, and now have a longitudinal view on The Migration Act, the Migration Regulationss and the merits review process.

It seems to me that the greatest challenge facing practitioners is what to do and where to go to get advice following a refusal at the AAT.

This delay inevitably impacts adversely on the RMA as well as their clients, and can lead to a situation where by reason of delay or procrastination, an Applicant is locked out of judicial review at the Federal Circuit Court or the Federal Court. 

Timely, independent and expert advice which is Free may assist RMAs and members of the public who are not represented, to understand why their application has been refused and what their options are.

I will be providing the advice personally, and will if necessary, engage expert Counsel to act should the matter proceed to judicial review.

Practitioners and members of the public should anticipate a turn around time of 24 hours on each enquiry and if that timing is breached, a gentle reminder using the same thread will be very likely to produce the advice that is being sought.

In terms of the RMA client relationship, I for one cannot see any difficulty in the face of an AAT refusal, for the RMA on behalf of the client to initiate the advice.  That advice may clarify what the relevant issues were that arose during a hearing which may assist the RMA and their clients to understand where their case went off the rails.

Please send all enquiries through to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .  

Christopher Levingston
Accredited Specialist Immigration Lawyer