There is a moment that I keep coming back to. It was a Friday night, and I was sitting at a bar, trying to unwind and enjoy the meat raffle (that I did not win by the way). But I could not. I had just taken on a client whose visa was teetering on the edge of refusal. They had been given the wrong advice by their previous immigration firm, rushed through a process that demanded care and now was issued with a s57 Natural Justice letter. All the facts of the case pointed to a refusal, it was hopeless. I could not hold back my tears as I sat at the bar thinking about how I was going to help my client get out of this.
Not because I did not know what to do. But because I did. I knew the system. I knew the stakes. And I knew that if my client’s previous immigration firm did it right the first time with empathy, care and proper strategy, my client would not be in this mess. I was so upset for my client whose future in Australia was now at stake because they trusted an immigration specialist of their previous firm to provide them with accurate advice.
That is why I care so deeply about the kind of environment I work in. Because immigration law is not just about ticking boxes or hitting KPIs. It is about people. It is about futures. And the workplace culture behind the scenes shapes everything, from how we treat clients to how we treat each other.
A Non-Toxic Culture Is Foundational
When I consider staying at a workplace long-term, I do not just consider salary or caseload, I consider the team. I notice whether interns are mentored or left to sink. I pay attention to whether the firm celebrates successful outcomes or just revenue. Because I have seen and heard what happens when the culture is toxic. A toxic workplace is where lawyers are pushed to churn through cases, when compassion is treated as inefficiency, bringing in revenue is the main goal and burnout becomes the norm.
In those environments, the work becomes mechanical, the passion fades and clients, who are real people with real stories, get lost in the chaos.
But in a positive, outcome-driven firm, everything shifts.
- We take time to understand each client’s journey.
- We collaborate, not compete.
- We cry when things go wrong, and we celebrate when they go right.
- We pour our heart and soul into each application.
Relationships Over Revenue
I am thankful that at the Rehman Sheriff Group, we do not just focus on processing as many visas as we can. We build lifelong relationships even if that means we might take longer to complete an application. We might ask more questions. We might revisit our advice. We might add layers of care that do not show up on a spreadsheet.
But the results speak for themselves. We have had clients come to us after being turned away elsewhere. We have rebuilt their cases from scratch. We have fought for them and when that approval comes through, we remember why we do what we do.
We have played the role of a therapist and listened to clients cry over the mistake of another immigration professional. We have been the bearer of great news and listened to clients cry over a massive win. We have sat with clients in silence while they processed the weight of a decision. And through it all, we have been reminded that this work demands more than just legal skill. It demands humanity.
Passion is Sustainable When the Culture is Right
A positive workplace does not just make the job more enjoyable but it makes it more possible. It allows lawyers to stay passionate without burning out. It creates space for mentorship, reflection and growth. And it drives better outcomes, because when we care deeply, we advocate fiercely.
So, if you are a lawyer looking for your next role, ask about the culture, ask whether the firm sees clients as people or numbers and ask whether your passion will be nurtured or drained.
Because in immigration law, the stakes are too high to work in a place that does not care. The difference between a refusal and an approval can come down to one thing: whether someone cared enough to dig deeper. To me, that is what I call the RSG advantage.
And in case you are wondering, about three weeks later, I sat at that same bar, enjoying that same meat raffle (which I again did not win) with tear-filled eyes. This time, not from stress but from relief. I successfully crafted a creative legal argument, drawing on nuanced case law and discretionary factors that had been overlooked. It was not easy and it took time, care and a lot of emotional energy but the visa was eventually approved.
