Nathan Menon – Partner, Reed Smith
I started working on KIND UK cases when I was a senior associate back in 2019 and I have been involved in three different cases since then. I have always been interested and keen to participate in pro bono during my career, progressing from trainee through to associate and now partner.
I started working on KIND UK cases when I was a senior associate back in 2019 and I have been involved in three different cases since then. I have always been interested and keen to participate in pro bono during my career, progressing from trainee through to associate and now partner.
I had always done sporadic bits of pro bono work such as research projects, which would last a few weeks but I have never really been involved in something as long term as a KIND case. Further, the political climate we find ourselves in just shows how big an issue safe migration is for many people.
The idea that it is illegal to come to this country seeking refuge for whichever reason does not sit right to me. My parents came to this country from India and I have been blessed by fortune to be born in this country. I feel as someone of my ethnic background that it was part of my role to help other people come to this country, especially in instances such as KIND cases where the children are born in the UK. The immigration system in the UK has deliberately become more complex and difficult to navigate, especially without significant legal help. It is a fallacy to believe that families with limited education can work through this system alone.
“The team from KIND and Reed Smith have been a great source of help for me and my daughter throughout the process of submitting my daughter’s application for leave to remain. The same team are now working with us to submit a citizenship application for my daughter. It has been great to work with the same people that I know I can trust and rely on to do their best for us. I can go to them when I need other help and they will do whatever they can to support us or point us in the right direction for where I can find what we need.”
KIND UK client
A case that I am currently involved with concerns a mother who had overstayed her domestic worker visa and she later gave birth to a child in the UK. The client is particularly vulnerable as she also suffers from mental health issues, especially depression and anxiety. We were able to submit the client’s application for leave to remain in December 2022 after gathering witness statements, supporting evidence and country research, which took roughly 20 months to bring together.
We are now in the process of applying for citizenship for her child and getting this submitted in the upcoming months. It has been a genuine highlight of my career so far for me because of the amount of work involved over the past few years to reach this stage and getting to know the family over this period. I have been exceptionally lucky to work with so many great team members as part of my work with KIND. On this case, the team have been great at building a strong relationship with the client built on trust and it is clear for us to see that her mental health is improving. When we receive the citizenship decision for her child this will be a memorable moment for me, as this will mean they cannot be threatened with deportation and can have stability to build their lives in the UK, as they deserve to do.
KIND and their team of supervising lawyers are the real heroes here, dealing with numerous similar cases day in day out. The support from our supervising solicitor, Sumita Gupta, has been tireless and she has always responded with prescient advice in a very timely fashion. They are professionals in what they do and deserve all the respect they can get.
If you are thinking of getting involved in KIND cases, do it! It is the most fulfilling legal work I have done – full stop – and will be something I look on with great fondness as my career goes on.
Kids in Need of Defense UK – a unique pro bono opportunity
We provide free legal advice and representation to undocumented children and young people via our partnerships with lawyers and law firms across the country.
We offer a unique pro bono opportunity, with no immigration experience needed – all training and supervision is provided by our expert immigration lawyers.
Taking on Kids in Need of Defense UK cases means making a commitment to children and young people who would not otherwise be able to access legal representation. By partnering with KIND UK, by volunteering your time and expertise, you can help change the course of a child’s life forever.
