Skip over main navigation
  • Log in
  • Basket: (0 items)
Kids In Need Of Defence UK
    • Search
    • Twitter
Donate
Menu
  • About us
    • Why we do it
    • How we do it
    • Who we are
    • Funders
  • Get help
    • Cases we take
    • Where we work
    • FAQs
    • Make a referral
  • Pro bono lawyers
    • Why get involved?
    • Law firms
      • What it involves
      • Law firm FAQs
    • Lawyers
      • Lawyer FAQs
      • A pro bono lawyer's perspective
      • Pro Bono Lawyer Volunteer Resources
    • Our legal community
      • Learning
      • News
  • Support us
    • Where your money goes
    • Donate
    • Fundraise
      • Create your own fundraiser
    • Volunteer
    • Work with us
  • Latest
    • Case studies
    • News
    • Blog
    • Events
    • Pro Bono Week
  • Admin
    • Log in
  • Basket: (0 items)
  • A pro bono lawyer's perspective
  1. Pro bono lawyers
  2. Lawyers

A pro bono lawyer's perspective

Why did you want to get involved with Kids in Need of Defense UK?

I had started at Ropes & Gray’s banking team around six months prior to starting with Kids In Need of Defense UK. Ropes & Gray has a target of at least 20 hours of pro bono work per year and I was eager to find a pro bono project that interested me. Felicity Kirk (International Pro Bono lead at Ropes and Gray) suggested I attend the training.  

Being a junior associate and having limited client contact in my day-to-day role, this was a great opportunity to work directly with clients and a nice change from corporate work. 

What were your initial thoughts when you took on a case?

Since I had no background in immigration law, it was a bit daunting. Anna, (Kids in Need of Defense UK Supervising Solicitor), was there to help with technical legal questions. When I met the family I would represent, which consisted of two parents and three young children from Ghana, I could tell they were frustrated with the system and the legal advice they had received in the past. 

They had submitted several unsuccessful applications and were scared about the very real prospect of being removed from the UK. They had spent money that they couldn't afford on previous applications for leave to remain. Now the Home Office makes them report every month and they are very nervous. In addition the father had an accident which resulted in serious injuries. As a result he has been charged fees, which he is unable to repay, for medical care provided by the NHS. You can tell that all of this is hanging over their heads. 
Anna is helping us with the legal arguments. We want to make sure this application is done right so they can move forwards. It is so important for them. 

Do you feel supported doing the casework?

Yes. It is much more involved than clinical pro bono work but with Anna's guidance and templates, we have all the resources we need. We also have other members from the finance team working on cases so we can collaborate and share stories.

What has been a highlight for you?

We are still in the early stages but I have enjoyed looking at the legal obstacles that this family has faced and coming up with a strategy. They could not do this alone and I like being able to use my legal skills to assist.

Would you recommend Kids in Need of Defense UK to a colleague? 

Absolutely. The finance team is a close-knit group. We share stories and have already had other colleagues sign up based on our conversations. 

Get Involved

Contact us

Lawyer FAQs

Published: 3rd January, 2018

Updated: 4th June, 2018

Author:

Related topics:
  • Case studies
  • Lawyers
Share this page
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Latest

  • Interview: Olivia Clark and Kristin Bong

    Interview: Olivia Clark and Kristin Bong

    Georgia Iacovou interviews two of our longer-serving pro bono lawyers about their thoughts on the project, the importance and challenges of pro bono work, and how they feel KIND has improved things for firms, for them, and for clients.

  • 15 pro bono cases that couldn't have been completed without KIND UK

    15 pro bono cases that couldn't have been completed without KIND UK

    It's pro bono week, so we thought we'd have a chat with Alexander Kolmakov from DLA Piper — he's close to completing his 15th case.

  • Pro Bono Week 2020

    Pro Bono Week 2020

    KIND is participating in Pro Bono Week 2020

  • Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit

Related

  • Michelle Elcombe: Supervising Solicitor

    Michelle Elcombe: Supervising Solicitor

    Michelle Elcombe is the Supervising Solicitor for Kids in Need of Defense at Coram Children's Legal Centre. Having been a law firm partner she now uses her expertise to train and mentor pro bono lawyers.

  • What if I want to support Kids in Need of Defense UK but I can't do legal work?

  • Do I need to be qualified in England and Wales or Scotland?

  • What's the process making an application to the Home Office?

  • How will a client be allocated to me?

  • How many hours do I have to commit to?

  • What if I don't know anything about immigration law?

  • How do I get involved?

Most read

  • Make a referral

    Make a referral

    Complete our referral form to access our support.

  • Cases we take

    Cases we take

    Check here whether we cover the type of application you need to make.

  • Why get involved?

    Why get involved?

    We support pro bono lawyers so that they can take on a case from start to finish. That means that our pro bono lawyers help a child, young person or their parent prepare and submit an application for citizenship or permission to reside in the UK.

  • Why we do it

    Why we do it

    Research estimates that there are over 120,000 undocumented children in the UK. Some of them are British but unable to prove it, many of them have a legal entitlement to British citizenship; even more would suffer human rights violations if they had to leave the UK.

  • How we do it

    How we do it

    Kids in Need of Defense UK partners with law firms and businesses. Their lawyers can then provide free legal representation to children and young people. We call them our pro bono lawyers because they give their time for the public good; not profit.

  • Volunteer

    Maybe you're not a lawyer but you'd still like to help. There are other opportunities for you to get involved!

  • Funders

    Kids in Need of Defence UK would like to thank its generous supporters; together we protect a child's right to dream.

  • Donate

    Donate

    Protect a child's right to dream.

  • What it involves

    What it involves

    Information on what working with Kids in Need of Defense UK involves for you and your firm.

  • Working with children and young people

    Working with children and young people

    Brighter Futures teach us how to work with children and young people.

Donate

Donate

Protect a child's right to dream. Read more

Donate Fundraise

Published: 3rd January, 2018

Updated: 13th January, 2020

Author:

Sign up for our newsletter

Please enter your first name
Please enter your last name
Please enter your email address Please enter a valid email address (e.g. [email protected])
  • Login
  • Logout
  • Manager
  • Sitemap
  • Contact
  • Accessibility
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy

Central England Law Centre is a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales under number 4149673 and registered as a Charity number 1087312

Registered office Oakwood House, St Patricks Road, Coventry CV1 2HL