Zoe Bantleman

Legal Director, JUSTICE

Zoe Bantleman is Legal Director of JUSTICE, a barrister, a member of the editorial board of the Journal of Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Law, an expert panel member for the Strategic Legal Fund, and a trustee of Safe Passage International. She is the former Legal Director of the Immigration Law Practitioners’ Association. From 2024 to 2026, she was also a Member of the Immigration Law Committee of the Law Society of England and Wales.

As a barrister, her practice has covered a wide spectrum of advisory work, drafting, and advocacy across UK immigration, nationality, asylum, human rights, and public law.

Zoe has given evidence to numerous Parliamentary Committees and All-Party Parliamentary Groups. She frequently delivers seminars and presents in conferences and panels in the UK and across Europe, including for Amnesty International UK, the Asser Institute Centre for International & European Law, Human Trafficking Foundation Advisory Forum, Greater London Authority, Public Law Project, Queen Mary University of London, Refugee Law Initiative, School of Oriental and African Studies, Society of Legal Scholars, University of Oxford, and Westminster Legal Policy Forum. She frequently publishes about law and policy changes to the migration, justice, and human rights frameworks and provides commentary on case law.

Before qualifying as a barrister, Zoe volunteered at Notre Dame Refugee Centre, conducted pro bono research for LSE Centre for Women, Peace, and Security and the Commonwealth Lawyers Association, co-founded the LSE Law Review, and co-edited the LSE Amnesty International Journal.

Contributed to

5

Applying under the Start-up route [Archived]

Practice Notes

The Start-up route permits individuals with an endorsement issued before 13 April 2023 from a Home Office-approved endorsing body to establish and set up a business in the UK for the first time. This Practice Note outlines the eligibility requirements for making an application under the route, including the financial and English language requirements. It also looks at the suitability and validity requirements, period and conditions of permission, dependants, and switching to the Innovator route.

Immigration

Changes of law and policy, rights against retrospective legislation, and legitimate expectation

Practice Notes

This Practice Note provides an overview of the principles which the courts have adopted on the effect of changes of law or policy on individual cases. It considers the presumption against the retrospective effect of legislation, the legal effects of changing or withdrawing a policy and the principle of legitimate expectation (including some examples in the immigration context).

Immigration

Visitor (standard): avoiding common pitfalls

Practice Notes

This Practice Note highlights some common pitfalls associated with applications under the standard visitor immigration category that may lead to additional scrutiny of an application and/or its refusal. These often involve issues that may cast doubt on an applicant's credibility as a genuine visitor.

Immigration

Visitor: eligibility

Practice Notes

This Practice Note outlines the eligibility requirements for individuals applying to come to the UK under the Visitor immigration route, including those undertaking permitted paid engagements (PPE). It looks at the eligibility criteria, suitability and requirements, period and conditions of permission and any provisions for dependants.

Immigration

Visitors: prohibited and permitted activities

Practice Notes

This Practice Note outlines the prohibited and permitted activities for those applying to enter the UK under the visitor immigration route. It includes information on prohibited activities, which focus on certain types of work and self employment and also outlines the permitted activities of tourism and leisure, volunteering, training, study, medical treatment and permitted paid engagements.

Immigration