Bishop & Sewell is delighted to be involved in a partnership that has been shortlisted for the LawWorks Pro Bono Awards 2022.
The Awards recognise and celebrate achievement in legal pro bono (free) work, undertaken by organisations and individuals, and the commitment of the legal sector in enabling access to justice. Shortlisted firms represent the breadth and range of pro bono activity undertaken by LawWorks (the Solicitors Pro Bono Group) members, pro bono clinics and many others across England and Wales.
Bishop & Sewell is involved in a partnership with Rainbow Migration to provide pro bono legal services to members of the LGBTQI+ community with regards to immigration issues. Rainbow Migration is a charity that provides practical and emotional support for LGBTQI+ people seeking asylum or who wish to remain in the UK on other grounds (e.g., because they have a partner in the UK). The program run by Rainbow Migration and volunteers from various law firms provides free advice at a monthly clinic to LGBTQI+ couples where one of them wishes to stay in the UK on the basis of their relationship. This partnership has been shortlisted in the ‘Most Effective Pro Bono Partnership’ category.
Bishop & Sewell’s Mariam Khaliq, Partner and Head of the Immigration team, is one of the firm’s lawyers who volunteers with Rainbow Migration. She said:
“Rainbow Migration has been in existence in different forms for almost 30 years, during which it has partnered with lawyers and law firms to provide free immigration support through monthly advice sessions serviced by pro bono lawyers.
“It is fantastic that the Rainbow Migration partnership rota has been recognised for its hard work over many years in providing pro bono advice to LGBTQI-+ couples where one (or both) are not settled in the UK and require immigration advice on how to remain in the UK.
“I always look forward to the sessions as not only are helping people in their pursuit to remain together in the UK but you also get to meet interesting couples with amazing life stories and experiences, some of whom we still keep in touch with years later.”
The winners will be announced at an event at the Law Society, Chancery Lane, London on 6 December 2022.
Contact our Immigration Solicitors
For initial advice or to arrange a meeting with one of our Immigration solicitors, please email immigration@bishopandsewell.co.uk or contact us on 020 7631 4141 and ask to speak to a member of the Immigration team.
