Immigration advice is a crowded, largely London-centred market. Here's how our approach compares to well-documented patterns across the wider sector.
The Solicitors Regulation Authority — the body that regulates most solicitor-led immigration practices in England & Wales — has published its own thematic review of immigration and asylum legal services, and it documents recurring issues: slow responses, unclear or upfront fees, and poor communication about case progress. Independently, the sector's top-ranked specialist firms (recognised by directories such as Chambers and Legal 500) are heavily concentrated around London and a handful of major cities.
We built Lexent Law Chamber around addressing exactly those gaps. Below is how our standard practice compares to what's commonly reported elsewhere.
Sector pattern: the SRA's review documents cases where firms went weeks without replying to important questions, sometimes while Home Office deadlines approached.
Our practice: we reply within one business day, and treat urgent detention or deportation matters as priority.
Sector pattern: the same review flagged upfront "assessment" fees charged for what should be a free initial review, and pricing that isn't made clear from the outset.
Our practice: your first consultation is free, and fixed fees are agreed in writing before any work begins.
Sector pattern: larger, high-volume practices often move a case between whichever staff member is available next.
Our practice: one dedicated adviser handles your case from the first call through to the outcome.
Sector pattern: the highest-ranked specialist immigration firms are concentrated heavily around London, with limited presence elsewhere.
Our practice: every consultation is available by phone or video, across all of England & Wales.
Sector pattern: the SRA's review also found cases of clients not being told the outcome of their own application, and applications submitted with insufficient detail.
Our practice: you get regular updates at every stage, with decisions and next steps explained in plain English.
Sector pattern: registration and regulatory status isn't always displayed prominently before a client engages a firm.
Our practice: our IAA registration status is published openly, not buried in small print.
Sector pattern: useful information is often gated behind a paid consultation before you know your basic options.
Our practice: our immigration & asylum guides answer common questions in full, for free, before you ever book.
Sector pattern: language barriers are rarely addressed proactively, leaving clients to arrange their own interpreter support.
Our practice: we arrange interpreter-assisted consultations at no extra admin hassle to you.
Sector-wide findings referenced above are drawn from the Solicitors Regulation Authority's published thematic review of immigration and asylum legal services, and from publicly available Chambers and Legal 500 practice rankings. We haven't named or compared ourselves against any individual firm.
The content on this website is provided for general information purposes only and does not constitute immigration advice. No adviser-client relationship is created by using this site. Please contact us directly to discuss your specific circumstances.
