Maria is the Global and National Immigration Leader and Legal Principal of BDO Migration Services Pty Ltd, an incorporated legal practice specialising in all aspects of Australian immigration and nationality law for corporate and private clients.
Maria is an Accredited Specialist in Immigration Law and leads BDO’s Global Immigration Services which operate in nearly 100 countries around the world.
Acknowledged as one of Australia's leading specialists in immigration law, Maria brings a unique depth and breadth of immigration law and corporate and commercial-related legal experience from her years in private practice and government service.
Maria leads a team of lawyers dedicated to providing strategic, expert and practical advice and business solutions in visa and migration-related requirements.
As a leader in her field, a trusted adviser and specialist counsel, Maria acts for leading corporations and private clients to provide a premium service with outstanding results.
Maria's practice incorporates all aspects of Immigration Law including Employer Temporary and Permanent Residency Applications, Business Skills Migration, complex matters involving health and character issues, Skilled Migration, Review Applications at the Administrative Appeals Tribunal, Citizenship, Ministerial Submissions, International Education, Labour Agreements and Governance, Risk, and Compliance.
An authority on Immigration Law, Maria’s peers continue to nominate her in Who's Who Legal: Corporate Immigration (2010–2025) as one of the world’s leading practitioners in the field. Maria has also been nominated year-on-year in the peer-reviewed Best Lawyers (2008-2025) and Doyles Guide (2020 -2025) to the Australian legal profession as a leading Accredited Specialist in Immigration Law.
Maria’s peers continue to nominate her in Who’s Who Legal as one of the world’s leading practitioners in this field.
A prolific author on various aspects of immigration and citizenship law, Maria’s works include the book 457 Visa Law: Addressing Australia's Skilled Labour Shortage (Thomson Reuters, 2008), the Australian chapter of the International Comparative Legal Guide to: Corporate Immigration (2017-2021) and Who’s Who Legal – Thought Leaders (2020-2023). Maria also contributes to Who’s Who Legal featured articles offering unique insights into Australian Immigration Law (2015-2023).
A sought-after national and international presenter, most recently Maria has spoken at the International Bar Association (IBA) Annual Conference in October 2017; the IBA 8th Biennial Global Conference in November 2017, the IBA Annual Conference in September 2019 and the 9th Biennial Global IBA Immigration Conference 2019, the Law Council of Australia Immigration Conference in 2020, the Law Institute of Victoria, the Legalwise Seminars Annual Immigration Law Symposiums in 2021, the 10th Biennial Global IBA Immigration Conference in 2022 and the Law Institute of Victoria in December 2022.
In March 2023, Maria spoke at the Legalwise Annual Immigration Law Conference and the Thomson Reuters Skilled Migration and Workforce Planning Conference.
In March 2024, Maria again spoke at the Legalwise Annual Immigration Law Conference and in April 2024 at the Institute of Public Accountants webinar on workforce shortages.
Maria experience and expertise includes preparing a number of expert reports for Court matters regarding the professional and ethical obligations of legal practitioners/registered migration agents acting in immigration matters.
Maria is a member of the Migration Law Committee of the Law Council of Australia, the Migration Law Committee of the Law Institute of Victoria, the Citizenship and Nationality Section of the International Bar Association and the Migration Institute of Australia.
Maria's former roles include member of the executive committee of the international law section of the Law Council of Australia, convener of the Immigration Lawyers Association of Australasia of the Law Council of Australia, founding member of the advisory committee on immigration law specialisation of the Law Institute of Victoria as well as its accredited specialisation education advisory committee. Maria was a member of the National Immigration Specialisation Committee for Immigration Law, a member of the Nationality and Population Council, a member of the Family Law Council of Australia, a member of the Advisory Council to the Office of Multicultural Affairs, deputy chair of the Victorian Ethnic Affairs Commission, consultant to the Law Reform Commission, consultant to the Australian Council of Education and Research in the development of the Migration Agents Examination and an Accredited Specialist in Family Law.
Maria has been recognised for her contribution to continuing professional education by the Law Institute of Victoria.
Maria has a Bachelor of Laws Degree (second-class honours) and a Bachelor of Arts Degree (first-class honours) from the University of Melbourne. She is an Accredited Specialist in Immigration Law (Law Institute of Victoria) and is admitted to practice at the Supreme Court of Victoria and the High Court of Australia.
WWL says: The “incredibly impressive” Maria Jockel "demonstrates mastery of the Australian immigration system through her depth of knowledge, development of key relationships and calm analysis of the changing landscape". She is “incredibly focused and tactical in her approach to solving complex problems”.
Recent testimonials from clients include:
“The best in the business of immigration”
“You have ensured that our employees are provided the highest level of support and traverse the world of immigration law in accordance with the rules and regulations. II honestly believe that only you and your team could get these things sorted effectively”
“Maria is very well versed, and her knowledge of the Department of Immigration and Border Protection laws is unequivocal”
“Appreciate all the work you do for us, and I genuinely appreciate your talents”
“On behalf of the team, our sincere thanks and appreciation for managing this application, we are truly thrilled with the news! We are looking forward to congratulating our employee in person. They will be so happy!”
