It’s the 20th anniversary of the London Legal Walk and JRS UK is taking part again. The London Legal Walk brings together legal firms, Barrister Chambers, and other charitable organisations, to walk 10km across central London to raise much needed funds for not-for-profit organisations and legal aid providers.
“I walked in the LLW for the first-time last year. It was fantastic seeing all the law firms and different organisations gathering to support such a worthwhile course. It was truly heartening to march together in solidarity and walk for justice and nothing beats that feeling of achievement when you cross the finish line at Carey Street! I can’t wait for next years LLW and the opportunity to walk with colleagues, volunteers and refugee friends. It’s a really fun day out and a great chance to get to know one another on a deeper level”
Jemima Tanner, Grants Officer looking back on the London Legal Walk 2023
JRS UK will be walking once again to raise funds for our own in-house Legal Project. Our legal work is an integral component of our organisation. The legal team provides essential legal advice and specialist representation for refugee friends who are trapped in legal limbo and waiting to be recognised as in need of international protection. Our legal team also runs a series of training sessions on legal rights and statelessness for refugee friends.
Ultimately, it’s the public and many vulnerable communities who are hit hardest by the serious deficit of Legal Aid. The Law Society recently found that across England and Wales, 63% of people do not have access to an immigration legal aid provider.
This poor provision of legal services means that individuals seeking sanctuary in the UK are unable to find a good quality solicitor to help guide them through the complexities of the asylum system. The current Legal Aid crisis has also worsened the hardship that many of our refugee friends experience whilst they wait for status.
“Before registering with JRS, I didn’t have any access to legal aid or solicitors. I tried my best. I called up all the firms, but no one could provide me with someone to take my case. I got section 95 support but there were no solicitors to help take on my case. I had to go to my substantive interview alone which was difficult with no representation”
A refugee friend who was granted Leave-To-Remain earlier this year shared his experience of the Legal Aid Crisis
How can you support us?
- Join us on the 18th of June and walk the walk with us – please contact Jemima.tanner@jrs.net
- Sponsor our London Legal Walk team at: Support JRS UK 2024
- If you know of any Legal Firms participating, who you believe would be interested in contributing some of their fundraising efforts to JRS UK’s Legal Project, please let us know.
- If your firm is already walking, you can ask LLST that half the money you raise will be directed straight to JRS UK
We invite our supporters to donate towards our Legal Project so that we can continue providing free, high-quality legal advice and representation for our refugee friends. Your donation will help ensure that people have access to the support they need, to be finally recognised as a refugee here in the UK and find a route out of the destitution they face.
Please email or call Jemima for any further information:
jemima.tanner@jrs.net or 07522 500 515
