Refugee Law Clinic declared officially open

The University of London’s intercollegiate Refugee Law Clinic, which offers pro bono legal representation to asylum seekers making fresh claims, was officially opened at a virtual ribbon cutting ceremony by Vice–Chancellor Professor Wendy Thomson CBE in late May.

The opening and subsequent panel discussion, ‘The New Plan for Immigration: What now for asylum seekers?’, was hosted by the chair of the Clinic’s Governing Board, Professor David Cantor, and featured panellists Louise Hooper (Garden Court Chambers), Professor Elspeth Guild (Queen Mary University of London), and Kamena Dorling (Helen Bamber Foundation). You can watch the launch event on the University’s website: bit.ly/Refugee-Law-Clinic-Launch

The Refugee Law Clinic was developed with support from 10 of the University’s Member Institutions: Birkbeck, University of London; City, University of London; Goldsmiths, University of London; King’s College London; London Business School; London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE); Queen Mary University of London; Royal Holloway, University of London; SOAS University of London; and University College London (UCL).

The Clinic’s main legal focus will be on advising and preparing fresh claims for asylum, an area identified as underserviced in the current legal landscape, and aims to complement the work of law firms and other service providers in London. Two commercial law firms, Macfarlanes LLP and Clifford Chance LLP, have partnered with the University and will offer their lawyers an opportunity to undertake pro bono work with the Clinic. The University is sincerely grateful to Macfarlanes LLP, Clifford Chance LLP, the Migration Foundation and the Worshipful Company of Drapers, as well as a charitable foundation which made an anonymous gift, for their generous support of this important initiative. For further information, please visit: rli.sas.ac.uk/refugee-law-clinic