Bryony Rest, Head of Immigration and Partner at David Gray Solicitors LLP
What inspired you to pursue a career in law, and what path did you take to become a Solicitor?
As I imagine is the same for many colleagues, my inspiration came from wanting to help people, whether to help them achieve something, to resolve a problem or to ensure they are heard.
My path to qualification was fairly conventional with a law degree, but then an LLM in International Law which is what really inspired me to pursue the area of work I do, and then the LPC at the College of Law.
What are the most common legal issues people seek advice on, and how do you help them?
We assist people with all aspects of immigration work, whether helping them to achieve the immigration status they need personally, such as bringing their partner to the UK, or helping their business employ a skilled worker who is vital to their organisation.
Making people feel secure and enabling them to be able to live, work, study and do business in the UK is why we do what we do.
What are the biggest misconceptions people have about solicitors and the legal system?
There are many misconceptions about solicitors and the legal system but possibly none more so than about immigration lawyers and the UK’s immigration system, not least perpetuated by the media.
The focus is often on irregular migration to the UK which is a small proportion of migration. However, many people will likely be surprised to learn how difficult and costly it is to legitimately enter the UK to live or work. There are many requirements to meet such as a minimum skills and salary level for Skilled Workers, different levels of English language for different types of visa and the need to show adequate finances to support an applicant and their family. Visas for the UK are expensive, for example, it costs over £5000 for an initial visa to bring a spouse to the UK in Home Office fees and if an application is unsuccessful the fees are not refunded.
As is common with most areas of law, it is imperative that people get good advice at the outset to understand the requirements and procedures they need to meet otherwise a lot of time and money could be wasted. Navigating the frequently changing Immigration Rules and procedures is complex. At times a ‘tick in the wrong box’ can result in a rejected or refused application.
Immigration lawyers are not the wild west of lawyers and are actually very closely governed. The area did have problems in the past with poor advice being offered by un-regulated advisers. However it has been a criminal offence for a number of years now to offer immigration advice unless an adviser is regulated either by the Law Society (including it’s regional versions), Bar Council or by the Immigration Advice Authority.
What advice would you give to someone facing a legal dispute for the first time?
Dealing with the Home Office, particularly in recent years with the hostile environment that has been created towards migrants, is very challenging. The Home Office is a huge Government department. Communication with them is extremely difficult and it can often feel like people are up against a brick wall.
Immigration law changes very frequently, often with little notice, such as the changes to the skills level for Skilled Workers with 3 week’s notice in July 2025. It is really important that people know what the requirements they need to meet are and what they need to do to show this.
We’d advise people to get in touch early on in their case so we can assess their situation and provide honest, clear advice on the likelihood of success from the outset.
What is the most rewarding part of being a Solicitor, and what keeps you motivated?
Clients are at the heart of everything I do and most of my day is spent liaising with clients and working on their cases.
I represent people from all over the world and businesses is many sectors and based all over the UK. This makes the work very varied and interesting.
It is a privilege to be able to help people with legal issues that are of fundamental importance to them personally and for their business and to help them navigate the complex UK immigration system. Achieving good outcomes for people is of course very motivating too.
Tell us some little-known facts about this area of law…
Just because you were born in the UK it does not mean you are British and just because you are married to a British citizen or have a British child it does not mean you have the right to stay
New Skilled Workers need to earn a minimum salary of over £40,000 to be sponsored, with a few exceptions
People with limited visas for the UK, including children, have to pay extra to use the NHS up front (on top of any tax and National Insurance liability)
Please visit https://www.davidgray.co.uk/departments/immigration/ to find out more or call 0191 232 9547 to make an appointment with the David Gray Immigration Team.