This three-part Immigration Fundamentals series is designed to equip legal practitioners and migration agents with the core practical skills required to manage visa applications effectively from the outset through to tribunal proceedings, with a strong focus on risk prevention and compliance. A must for newly registered migration agents and/or practitioners expanding their legal practice seeking to bolster their knowledge and compliance awareness, all whilst meeting your full CPD requirements through a single-registration, 10 CPD points across three separate weeks.
Focus on getting the fundamentals right, particularly the often-overlooked importance of proper document collection and early issue identification.
While preparing and lodging applications may appear straightforward, many problems arise at the initial stages, including incomplete documentation, inadequate client and sponsor statements, and failure to identify risks early. Gain practical guidance and checklists, unpack gathering and assessing information, and navigate legislation and policy resources to ensure accurate and compliant applications, so you avoid common pitfalls such as overstating claims or failing to follow proper procedures.
This program is structured with interactive learning, practical exercises, guided discussion and knowledge checks across all three sessions.
Description
Attend the whole series and earn 10 CPD units including:
4 units in Substantive Law
3 units in Professional Skills
1.5 units in Ethics & Professional Responsibility
1.5 units in Practice Management & Business Skills
This program is applicable to practitioners from all States & Territories
Immigration Law: Getting it Right from Day One – Building Strong Visa Applications
Friday, 28 August 2026
Focus on the foundational skills required to prepare accurate and compliant visa applications with a strong emphasis on preventing errors at the earliest stage of the process.
10.00am to 11.00am Document Collection and Risk Identification
- Document and evidence identification and collection
- Developing effective file and evidence checklists
- Identifying risks and eliminating them
- Gathering and verifying applicant and sponsor evidence
- Navigating legislation, regulations and policy tools including LEGENDcom
9.00am to 10.00am So you’ve got your MARA number or new to immigration law - what now?
- Setting up financial and administrative systems for compliant practice
- Service Agreement templates and tailoring to each client
- Practice management fundamentals
11.00am to 11.15am Break
11.15am to 12.15pm Preparation of Visa Applications
- Partner visas
- Skilled regional visas
- Visa cancellations
- Citizenship applications
Presented by:
Simon Jeans, Special Counsel, One Planet Migration Law; Principal Lawyer, Jeans Lawyers, Recognised in Best Lawyers in Immigration Law since 2016
Tina Nemantian, Principal Lawyer, One Planet Migration Law
Kathryn Viegas, Director and Principal Solicitor, Nomos
12.15pm to 1.15pm Criminal Law Intersection for Migration Practice
- Common practitioner errors:
- incorrect answers, such as failure to accurately disclose criminal history
- Practical guidance on completing key forms correctly:
- visa application forms
- partner visa sponsor forms
- Form 80 and related forms
- PIC 4020 issues
- citizenship application forms
- Potential OMARA issues
- Understanding the criminal–immigration overlap in day‑to‑day practice
- AVOs and related intervention orders
- Civil vs Criminal distinctions
- Character and disclosure issues in visa, citizenship and sponsor applications
Presented by Kim Hunter, Partner, Hunter Flood Lawyers; Criminal defence and immigration lawyer; Accredited Specialist in Immigration Law
Description
Attend and earn 4 CPD units in Substantive Law
This program is applicable to practitioners from all States & Territories
Presenters
Kathryn Viegas, Director and Principal Solicitor, Nomos
Kathryn comes from a long line of migrants. Her grandparents migrated, her parents migrated, and so has she – twice – so she personally understands what clients face when dealing with immigration issues. After leaving the UK, Kathryn spent her formative years in Singapore before arriving in Sydney as the holder of a student visa and ultimately making Australia her home. Kathryn started her legal career in the community sector and her commitment to advocacy and social justice has never waned. She developed her immigration law skills by working for various boutique immigration law firms and was so sure that immigration law was her passion that she started an immigration law firm two years after being admitted to practice. She brings a unique combination of technical skills, strategic thinking, empathy and pragmatism to her clients. In addition to being an Accredited Specialist in Immigration Law, she has been recognised in the annual Best Lawyers list for Australia each year from 2018 to date and is listed in Doyle’s Guide as a leading immigration lawyer in New South Wales. Kathryn is the Chair of the Management Committee of the Immigration Advice and Rights Centre, a Founding Director of the TLR Foundation and a Board Member of the Centre for Women’s Economic Safety. She also lectures in the Graduate Diploma in Migration Law at Victoria University and sits on the Law Society of NSW’s Specialist Accreditation Immigration Law Advisory Committee and the UNSW Law & Justice Advisory Council.
Simon Jeans, Special Counsel, One Planet Migration Law; Principal Lawyer, Jeans Lawyers
Simon is widely regarded as one of Australia’s top immigration lawyers, renowned for his deep expertise in this complex and rapidly changing field. Since his admission to legal practice in 1989, Simon has devoted over 35 years to immigration law. A true specialist, Simon is accredited by the NSW Law Society in Immigration Law. He served as a Member of both the Migration Review Tribunal and the Refugee Review Tribunal (from 1 July 2010 to 30 June 2015), an appointment made by the Governor-General. His international contributions include working with the Jesuit Refugee Service in Hong Kong, providing legal expertise with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Indonesia, and delivering expert testimony before a U.S. Congressional Committee on Indochinese refugee issues in Southeast Asia. Simon has managed immigration matters in Hong Kong, Indonesia, Iran, the UK, Jordan, Syria, and Ukraine, and is particularly noted for his longstanding work on behalf of over 1,200 Sabean Mandaeans from Iraq, assisting them to secure safer futures in Australia. He has been recognised on the Best Lawyers in Immigration Law list since 2016, acted as an Assessor and External Moderator for the College of Law’s Capstone Migration Agents Assessment in 2019 and 2020, and has been a trusted voice on immigration matters for Channel 7, Channel 9, Sky News Australia, The Australian, The Economist, and the ABC.
Kim Hunter, Lawyer, Hunter Flood Lawyers
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 always had her own private law practice and since becoming an Accredited Specialist in Immigration Law now only practices in criminal defence and immigration law. 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. Kim has been invited to be on an expert panel for a research project funded by the Australian Research Council, to be 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.
Tina Nematian, Principal Lawyer, One Planet Migration Law
Tina Nematian is a leading expert in Australian immigration law with over 15 years of experience helping businesses and individuals navigate the complexities of the migration system. Born in Australia to refugee parents who fled persecution, Tina grew up immersed in the stories of resilience and transformation that define the migrant experience. Tina’s core purpose is to make migration more accessible, strategic, and empowering, especially for businesses struggling to fill critical roles. She helps Australian companies, from local SMEs to global corporations, secure the overseas talent they need when the local labour market cannot meet demand. Her knowledge of employer-sponsored migration pathways, combined with her ability to design innovative visa strategies, has made her a trusted advisor for employers seeking to build high-performing, diverse teams. Over the course of her career, Tina has successfully guided thousands of clients through complex immigration matters, including employer sponsorships, permanent residency, visa refusals, and cancellations. She is admitted as a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of New South Wales and is an active pro bono contributor, working with organisations such as Aboriginal Legal Services and Anti-Slavery Australia to support vulnerable migrants and survivors of trafficking. In recognition of her service, she was named a finalist in the Lawyers Weekly Women in Law Awards for Pro Bono Lawyer of the Year. Tina’s career has spanned global NGO work and international migration advocacy, bringing warmth, tenacity, and expertise to every matter she undertakes.
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Immigration Law: Writing Submissions to the Department and Tribunal
Friday, 11 September 2026
Build on these fundamentals and unpack Tribunal practice, including how to prepare clear and structured submissions addressing the key issues, facts and applicable law across the Act, Regulations and policy framework. This skills-based workshop will provide practical insights into Tribunal dynamics, including effective submission preparation techniques to win cases.
Description
Attend and earn 3 CPD units in Professional Skills
This program is applicable to practitioners from all States & Territories
Professional Skills
11.15am to 12.45pm How to Win Tribunal Appeals in Three Easy Lessons
- Preparation is everything
- Presentation of evidence
- Conduct of the hearing
Your Presenter for this workshop is
Simon Jeans, Special Counsel, One Planet Migration Law; Principal Lawyer, Jeans Lawyers
One of Australia’s most respected immigration lawyers, Simon Jeans brings over 35 years of specialist immigration law experience, including service as a Member of the Migration Review Tribunal and Refugee Review Tribunal. Recognised in Best Lawyers in Immigration Law since 2016, Simon is renowned for his expertise in visa applications, tribunal advocacy, judicial review, ethics and migration practice management.
Professional Skills
9.30am to 11.00am Submissions in Practice
- Identifying issues, facts and law
- Applying the Act, Regulations and Policy framework
- Drafting persuasive submissions
11.00am to 11.15am Break
Presenters
Simon Jeans, Special Counsel, One Planet Migration Law; Principal Lawyer, Jeans LawyersSimon is widely regarded as one of Australia’s top immigration lawyers, renowned for his deep expertise in this complex and rapidly changing field. Since his admission to legal practice in 1989, Simon has devoted over 35 years to immigration law. A true specialist, Simon is accredited by the NSW Law Society in Immigration Law. He served as a Member of both the Migration Review Tribunal and the Refugee Review Tribunal (from 1 July 2010 to 30 June 2015), an appointment made by the Governor-General. His international contributions include working with the Jesuit Refugee Service in Hong Kong, providing legal expertise with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Indonesia, and delivering expert testimony before a U.S. Congressional Committee on Indochinese refugee issues in Southeast Asia. Simon has managed immigration matters in Hong Kong, Indonesia, Iran, the UK, Jordan, Syria, and Ukraine, and is particularly noted for his longstanding work on behalf of over 1,200 Sabean Mandaeans from Iraq, assisting them to secure safer futures in Australia. He has been recognised on the Best Lawyers in Immigration Law list since 2016, acted as an Assessor and External Moderator for the College of Law’s Capstone Migration Agents Assessment in 2019 and 2020, and has been a trusted voice on immigration matters for Channel 7, Channel 9, Sky News Australia, The Australian, The Economist, and the ABC.
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Ethics and Compliance in Migration Practice
Friday, 18 September 2026
Focus on ethics and professional responsibility, with a practical, scenario-based approach to the Code of Conduct. It will emphasise how sound systems, documentation practices and professional judgement underpin compliant practice, ensuring you are able to manage risk, meet regulatory expectations, and avoid common issues that can lead to adverse outcomes.
Description
Attend and earn 3 CPD units including:
1.5 units in Ethics & Professional Responsibility
1.5 units in Practice Management & Business Skills
This program is applicable to practitioners from all States & Territories
Practice Management & Business Skills
11.15am to 12.00pm Setting up a Compliant Practice
- Systems for file management and documentation
- Managing client expectations and instructions
- Maintaining accurate records and processes
Ethics & Professional Responsibility
9.30am to 10.15am Ethics and the OMARA Code of Conduct
- Core obligations and professional standard
- Risk areas leading to complaints and disciplinary action
Ethics & Professional Responsibility
10.15am to 11.00am “You don’t want MARA knocking on your door” – Practical Scenarios
- Common compliance failures in practice
- Real-world examples of regulatory breaches
Practice Management & Business Skills
12.00pm to 12.45pm “An Apple a Day Keeps the MARA Away”
- Build daily habits to ensure compliance
- Building sustainable and compliant business practices
- Avoiding systemic compliance risks
Your Presenter for this workshop is
Simon Jeans, Special Counsel, One Planet Migration Law; Principal Lawyer, Jeans Lawyers
One of Australia’s most respected immigration lawyers, Simon Jeans brings over 35 years of specialist immigration law experience, including service as a Member of the Migration Review Tribunal and Refugee Review Tribunal. Recognised in Best Lawyers in Immigration Law since 2016, Simon is renowned for his expertise in visa applications, tribunal advocacy, judicial review, ethics and migration practice management.
11.00am to 11.15am Break
Presenters
Simon Jeans, Special Counsel, One Planet Migration Law; Principal Lawyer, Jeans LawyersSimon is widely regarded as one of Australia’s top immigration lawyers, renowned for his deep expertise in this complex and rapidly changing field. Since his admission to legal practice in 1989, Simon has devoted over 35 years to immigration law. A true specialist, Simon is accredited by the NSW Law Society in Immigration Law. He served as a Member of both the Migration Review Tribunal and the Refugee Review Tribunal (from 1 July 2010 to 30 June 2015), an appointment made by the Governor-General. His international contributions include working with the Jesuit Refugee Service in Hong Kong, providing legal expertise with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Indonesia, and delivering expert testimony before a U.S. Congressional Committee on Indochinese refugee issues in Southeast Asia. Simon has managed immigration matters in Hong Kong, Indonesia, Iran, the UK, Jordan, Syria, and Ukraine, and is particularly noted for his longstanding work on behalf of over 1,200 Sabean Mandaeans from Iraq, assisting them to secure safer futures in Australia. He has been recognised on the Best Lawyers in Immigration Law list since 2016, acted as an Assessor and External Moderator for the College of Law’s Capstone Migration Agents Assessment in 2019 and 2020, and has been a trusted voice on immigration matters for Channel 7, Channel 9, Sky News Australia, The Australian, The Economist, and the ABC.
Register for this session only
