Since 2022, Kirkland has partnered with Refugee Legal Support to provide pro bono assistance to refugees in Europe who are seeking to reunite with family members in the UK. These efforts ensure family unity and protect vulnerable children from trafficking and other exploitation while separated from their families abroad. Kirkland lawyers have helped family members obtain legal aid eligibility to pursue reunification, while conducting research to find ways for Refugee Legal Support to streamline the adjudication process.

“With increasingly fewer options for refugees to seek haven in the UK, it is beyond rewarding to help those fleeing war and persecution to reunite with their families in the UK,” partner Harkiran Hothi said.

In addition, last year Kirkland provided pro bono legal assistance to more than a dozen child- and family-focused charities and nonprofit entities. By leveraging our resources and the comprehensive legal skills of our lawyers, we counselled organisations on how to register to become UK charities and manage trademark infringement and advocacy restrictions. All these efforts have allowed these organisations to maintain their focus on their critical work on behalf of children, including offering educational and youth empowerment services, promoting children’s physical and mental health through sport, funding child-focused medical research and healthcare, and supporting the needs of diverse families and communities.

In the case of one client, Kirkland advised on how to expand the charity’s tutoring services for disadvantaged youth to multiple schools. Kirkland lawyers created agreements and operational arrangements that allowed the organisation to expand its services while ensuring the viability of their current operations.

“Supporting the educational development of children is a key driver of social mobility,” partner James McGivern said. “It was an honour to help put in place a framework to expand the provision of vital tutoring services for this impactful organisation.”

Learn more about our commitment to pro bono work.

A Brighter Future for Children and Families in the UK

A Brighter Future for Children and Families in the UK