Press Release - ASAP daily Duty Scheme Launch Party 28th September 2009
Tuesday, 08 September 2009
Pro-bono support enables expansion of asylum duty scheme to full-time operation
On 28th September 2009, the Asylum Support Appeals Project (ASAP) officially launched its daily duty scheme, a programme that provides legal advice and representation to asylum seekers who have no access to legal representation for asylum support appeals because of a lack of public funding.
The scheme, started on a limited basis in July 2004 and supported by volunteer barristers, has gradually expanded from a two day a month operation to a daily operation. Pro bono support from four law firms: Clifford Chance, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Herbert Smith and Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP was crucially important in the final part of the duty scheme development. The involvement of these firms was initiated and co-ordinated by the charity, LawWorks.
More importantly, as a result of the duty scheme’s increased operation level, more destitute asylum seekers are able to access competent legal advice and representation. According to a recent report published by Citizens Advice, ASAP’s legal advice and representation has resulted in appellants having a 60 – 70% success rate when represented by ASAP advocates as opposed to a 40% success rate when attending hearings unrepresented.
ASAP volunteers deliver the daily duty scheme which provides representation and advice to help asylum seekers exercise their limited legal rights to food and shelter as there is no public funding available for legal representation for asylum support appeals. Accordingly, the vast majority of the appellants attend oral hearings with no legal representative, a gap which the Duty Scheme helps to fill. ASAP's legal advisers represent clients at the First-tier Tribunal (Asylum Support), which relocated today from Croydon to East India Dock.
Eiri Ohtani, director of ASAP, says, ‘Having legal representatives arguing asylum seekers’ cases is of paramount importance to the success of these appeals as most of them have limited command of the English language and little knowledge of how to appeal. Of course, we cannot guarantee the outcome of each and every case, but the chances of success are increased by quite a margin with competent legal representatives on board. In many cases, these appeals are a last chance saloon for asylum seekers as losing an appeal results in complete destitution for the individuals we represent.’
She adds, ‘Unless asylum seekers can fully exercise their legal rights at these appeals, the government’s failures to provide housing and welfare support to those who are legally entitled to it will continue to remain unchallenged. Unfortunately for our clients, a lack of access to justice often leads directly to a lack of food and shelter.’
Asylum seekers are already living on the poverty line, even more so after recent moves from the government resulted in a situation where the average single asylum seeker is forced to subsist on £35.15 per week. Many destitute asylum seekers depend on informal support and handouts from small community organisations and other asylum seekers who have very little themselves.
ASAP currently has five staff members and is continually looking to expand its services to accommodate a greater percentage of the 2,000 or so appeals that are heard every year. ASAP is governed by the Management Committee and is supported by a group of office volunteers and volunteer barristers and solicitors who help ASAP with the Duty Scheme.
Click here to see a photo of the event.
Photo - From left: Alasdair MacKenzie (Doughty Street Chambers), Paul Newdick (LawWorks Chair), Sue Willman (ASAP Chair), Anais D'Arville (Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP), Eiri Ohtani (ASAP Director).
Notes for editors:
The Asylum Support Appeals Project (ASAP) is a small charity working to end destitution amongst asylum seekers in the UK by defending their legal rights to food and shelter (registered charity 1105625). ASAP provides free legal advice and representation to asylum seekers in their asylum support appeals when their housing and financial support has been refused or terminated, as well as second-tier legal advice and training on asylum support law for voluntary sector advice agencies. ASAP’s policy work and strategic litigation work aims to change inhumane asylum policies which are forcing many asylum seekers into long-term destitution. For more information about ASAP, please visit our website at www.asaproject.org or contact Eiri Ohtani, Director, at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
LawWorks (registered charity 1064274) is the operating name of the Solicitors Pro Bono Group and is an independent charity with a mission to support, promote and encourage a commitment to pro bono across the solicitors' profession. It also helps individuals and community groups to access free legal advice.
Solicitors across England and Wales have always provided free or reduced cost legal advice and assistance to those individuals who are ineligible for legal aid from the Legal Services Commission, but who are unable to reasonably afford legal fees. Where those services are provided free of charge it is described as being pro bono.
LawWorks is a membership-based organisation whose members are law firms, in house legal departments, individuals and other organisations interested in contributing to the provision of legal pro bono work in England and Wales. LawWorks provides practical support, advice and information to them through a range of projects. For more information go to http://www.lawworks.org.uk or contact Graham Bucknall, Communications Manager, on This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .