Parish Patience Immigration Lawyers began as the law firm of Walter Parish in 1888.
David Bitel, joined the firm in 1976, and following significant changes to Administrative and then Immigration Law in the 1980s, he specialised in immigration law. The Parish Patience migration law section has since grown into one of the largest specialist immigration law practices in Australia.
David Bitel was first lawyer recognised by the Law Society of New South Wales as an Honorary Accredited Specialist in Immigration Law and was a consultant author of the loose leaf legal text “Australian Immigration Law”. David Bitel was named in the 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014,2015 and 2016 edition of the Best Lawyers in Australia, a tribute to him and to his long-time professional dedication.
Our immediate past Principal Lawyer Michael Jones was also named in the 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022 edition of the Best Lawyers in Australia. In 2015 he was voted 2015-2016 Lawyer of the Year, Immigration Law – Sydney .
Parish Patience Immigration Lawyers has been a well-known and reputable firm within the immigration profession. Parish Patience Lawyers, Migration Agents and other staff regularly present papers at major Australian and international conferences, and have assisted thousands of visa applicants at every stage of the application and appeal process.
Our professional team at Parish Patience is committed to establishing and maintaining long-lasting relationships with our clients. We offer trusted, personal and practical advice at cost effective rates best suited to each individual case. The staff at Parish Patience has the experience, expertise, and qualifications to provide high quality service in immigration (ranging from skilled migration, business opportunities to refugee, students and Federal Court matters)
Parish Patience Immigration Lawyers has been a well-known and reputable firm within the immigration profession.
Parish Patience Immigration Lawyers, Migration Agents and other staff regularly present papers at major Australian and international conferences, and have assisted thousands of visa applicants at every stage of the application and appeal process.
Our professional team at Parish Patience is committed to establishing and maintaining long-lasting relationships with our clients. We offer trusted, personal and practical advice at cost effective rates best suited to each individual case.
The staff at Parish Patience has the experience, expertise and qualifications to provide high quality service in immigration (ranging from skilled migration, business opportunities to refugee, students and Federal Court matters) and non-Immigration matters (Litigation, Family Law, Criminal Law, Commercial Law, Conveyancing, Succession Law).
Senior Registered Migration Agent and Director
Mahalingam Sutharshan (Shan) is qualified in law from Sri Lanka in 2000. He holds a LL.B degree from University of Colombo and obtained his Masters of Laws (LL.M) from Monash University, Melbourne in 2003. Shan completed another Masters of Laws degree specializing in International Humanitarian Law and Environmental Law under the AusAid Leadership Scholarship at the Australian National University in 2008. In 2009, he completed the Graduate Certificate in Migration Law and Practice.
In Sri Lanka, Shan worked as a researcher at the National Human Rights Commission and as a Lecturer at the Department of Law, University of Jaffna. He also worked as a Project officer with Pathfinder Foundation, Colombo, Sri Lanka. Shan joined Parish Patience Bitel Immigration Lawyers in December 2010 and at present specializes in handling protection visa applications, Administrative Appeals Tribunal, Ministerial appeals.
Shan has a particular interest in refugee law and asylum seekers and Human Rights Law.
Shan speaks fluent English and Tamil.
Member of Migration Institute of Australia. Migration Agents Registration number: 0961664
Contact: Mahalingam Sutharshan (Shan) – [email protected]
