When a client says, “I’ve been charged” or “There’s an AVO against me,” do you know what to do next? In this practical session, an experienced crimmigration lawyer will guide you through key documents—including police paperwork and AVOs - and explain how these matters move through the criminal justice system, from charge to fully defended hearing. You’ll learn how criminal and AVO issues affect visa status and applications, what to say (and what to avoid), when to refer, and how to effectively support your client. This session provides essential, practical guidance that every immigration professional needs when faced with these challenging situations.
Friday, 5 September 2025
Description
Attend and earn 1.5 CPD points in Substantive Law for Legal Professionals
Attend and earn 1 CPD point in Category B Seminar (SM) for Migration Agents
This program is applicable to practitioners from all States & Territories
MARA APPROVAL NUMBERS
SESSION 3: SM817
Chair:
Nicholas Poynder, Barrister, Rosny Chambers
1.00pm to 2.30pm Criminal Charges, Character Concerns & Visa Cancellations: What Every Immigration Practitioner Needs to Know
- Police came to my house looking for me
- Police rang me and asked me to come to the police station for a ‘chat’
- I’ve been charged by the police
- I got bail; or I’m in jail
- What happens now?
- What happens to my visa? (or visa application)
- I’m stressed and I need your help
Presented by Kim Hunter, Criminal Defence & Immigration Lawyer, Hunter Flood Lawyers; Accredited Specialist in Immigration Law
Presenters
Kim Hunter, Criminal Defence & Immigration Lawyer, Hunter Flood Lawyers
Ms Kim Hunter is a criminal defence and immigration lawyer as well as an Accredited Specialist in Immigration Law from Hunter Flood Lawyers in Sydney. Kim has a law degree, 3 first places in law exams (Criminal law, evidence & succession), second place in Constitutional Law and 2 Butterworths Law prizes. Kim Has always had her own private law practice and since becoming an Accredited Specialist in Immigration Law now only practices in criminal defence and complex immigration matters. Kim has formerly lectured in post graduate law at Australian National University and regularly lectures for the Law Society of NSW, Legal Aid and various other professional bodies and organisations including the MIA and Law Council of Australia. Kim is on an expert panel for a research project led by Prof Alison Gerard and funded by the Australian Research Council, being undertaken by leading Professors from Charles Sturt, Flinders and Monash universities in Australia and Oxford University in the UK on the topic of ‘Crimmigration’ – the intersection of criminal and immigration laws in Australia.
Nicholas Poynder, Barrister, Rosny Chambers
Consistently recognised in the Immigration Category of the Australian Financial Review Best Lawyers in Australia from 2012 to 2017, Nick maintains a solid migration law practice. He also practises in the areas of anti-discrimination law and family law. Nick has appeared as junior counsel in notable decisions in the High Court of Australia and provides high quality advice and representation as sole counsel in other courts and tribunals, including the Federal Circuit Court, Federal Court of Australia, and the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (General Division and Migration & Refugee Division). The nature of these matters ranges from legal issues which might arise during the processing or cancellation of visas, to applications for the review of decisions to refuse or cancel a visa. Prior to being called the Bar, Nick practised as a legal adviser to asylum-seekers in Port Hedland (Western Australia), locum practitioner with the Central Australian Aboriginal Legal Aid Service in Alice Springs (Northern Territory) and later co-ordinator of the Refugee Advice and Casework Service in Sydney. He was also a Senior Legal Officer with the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission in Sydney. Nick is the current author of the Judicial Review commentary in the LexisNexis Australian Immigration Law Service. Admitted to the Bar in both Victoria and New South Wales (and maintaining a practice in both jurisdictions), Nick holds a Master of Laws from the University of New South Wales, a Bachelor of Laws (with Honours) and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Tasmania. He was one of the first migration agents to be registered in Australia.
This seminar is part of a series
The Immigration Hour: Latest Updates, Timely Insights and Practical Strategies
More than 140 businesses have already been sanctioned by the Australian Border Force this year for breaches of sponsorship obligations. Penalties include fines of up to $79,200, visa cancellations, and bans on future sponsorships. Sponsoring a worker is not a “set and forget” responsibility - it requires ongoing compliance. Ensuring all obligations are met and required notifications to the Department are made is critical to avoiding serious legal and financial consequences. At the same time, the intersection between criminal and immigration law has become increasingly complex. More clients are facing migration consequences from old or minor matters resurfacing during police checks. Adding to the pressure, ongoing processing delays are causing significant anxiety, making it more important than ever for practitioners to have effective, up-to-date strategies in place. To support you in navigating these challenges, we’ve launched a 5-part series:
Casual Fridays for Busy Immigration Practitioners – Latest Updates, Timely Insights, Practical Strategies & Real Conversations.
This series delivers timely, practical content tailored to the realities of immigration practice, including Ministerial interventions, presented by Dr Jason Donnelly, one of Australia’s leading experts in immigration and public law, and the ethical use of AI in migration cases, with experienced barrister Sergio Zanotti Stagliorio. Equip yourself with the insights and strategies needed to navigate the most pressing challenges in today’s immigration landscape
Description
Attend all sessions to receive a significant discount. Migration agents can earn all their Category B CPD points, including ethics, while legal practitioners will receive 7.5 CPD points, including 1 point in ethics. Gain practical insights from Australia’s leading immigration experts to maintain a compliant and confident practice amid ongoing change.
This program is applicable to practitioners from all States & Territories
If you register for the full series as a live online product after the date of an individual session, you will be sent the recording for the sessions that have passed. Alternatively, you can register for individual sessions by following the links below.
View series listing
