A Legal Sanctuary
The UK has a long tradition of offering asylum to victims of persecution from countries around the world. While anyone arriving here can claim asylum, because of historic abuses and other procedural problems legal aid resources to represent and handle asylum seekers’ claims are now severely restricted and it is a criminal offence for non-legally qualified individuals to provide legal advice or support to asylum seekers. The result is that a significant number of asylum seekers, often those with the most challenging cases with no command of the English language and limited education are nonetheless obliged to participate in a formal tribunal process with no legal representation . Whatever the merits of their claim, asylum seekers deserve both a fair hearing and proper representation if they are being obliged to present themselves before a legal tribunal which is to determine matters of fundamental importance to their future safety and well being .
In 2005, churches in Leeds came together to form the award winning Manuel Bravo Project, in memory of a pro-democracy campaigner, fleeing from Angola, who was forced to represent himself at an asylum hearing. Manuel, was denied leave to remain, and was imprisoned . I n desperation, he took his own life so that his son would then be permitted to stay here . It was this tragic systemic failure that acted as the catalyst for a project dedicated to trying to ensure that all asylum seekers no matter what the merits of their case get a fair hearing where the basic principles of due process are observed.
DLA Piper was instrumental in setting up the project at its inception and has helped to recruit other law firms and barristers across the Leeds area to participate. DLA Piper lawyers now work in partnership with other local law firms , law students and other volunteers interviewing asylum seekers and working with barristers to prepare witness statements and skeleton arguments to present on behalf of the applicants at their tribunal hearings.
Over the last 2 years teams of lawyers from all different departments and levels of experience within the Leeds office have worked on numerous cases from countries as diverse as Zimbabwe , Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Eritrea/Ethiopia , Iran and Iraq . We have had cases involving allegations of persecution on the grounds of political and /or religious belief , sexuality and/or victims of torture or other oppression.
One of the greatest challenges has been to persuade lawyers of whatever background to accept that properly supported and trained they can make a real difference in an area outside their normal comfort zone. It is really rewarding and excellent for office cohesion to see cross specialism groups of lawyers working together in a common cause. Perhaps the greatest reward is that the Manuel Bravo model has been introduced to Lawworks who are now seeking to replicate it across the UK.