One Year of Pro Bono Partnership with Duncan Lewis

One Year of Opening Doors to Justice

In February 2025, Info Latinos began a monthly legal surgery in partnership with Duncan Lewis Solicitors. One year on, we are proud to celebrate a collaboration that has opened doors to justice for members of our community who might otherwise have been left without support.

Over the past year, we have supported 33 core clients through our immigration legal surgery, alongside four additional family cases. Behind each number is a person navigating uncertainty — often with limited English, restricted income and little trust in formal systems.

Who We Have Supported

Of the 33 core clients:

• 23 were women and 10 were men

• 10 had children, including one child with special educational needs

• 8 were at risk of homelessness

• 20 had no recourse to public funds

• 15 had limited or basic English

Four additional family cases, all involving women, included three cases with children and one involving a child with special needs.

These figures tell a clear story: immigration insecurity rarely exists alone. It intersects with housing instability, financial exclusion, safeguarding concerns and language barriers.

What the Legal Surgery Achieved

Through pro bono legal time from Duncan Lewis, clients received specialist advice on complex issues including asylum refusals, visa regularisation, settlement pathways and family law matters.

The outcomes so far:

• 21 cases received legal advice that clarified their situation and set them on the right path

• 2 clients secured free legal representation

• 10 cases remain under active follow-up, reflecting the long-term nature of immigration and family law processes

Why This Model Matters

We estimate that 70–80% of clients would not have accessed a lawyer without bilingual preparation and support. For many, the barriers are significant:

• Limited English

• Financial hardship

• No recourse to public funds

• Difficulty organising documentation

• Fear and mistrust of legal systems

Before each legal surgery, Info Latinos conducts careful triage, supports clients to prepare their documents, and ensures they understand the scope and purpose of the advice. After sessions, we follow up — clarifying next steps, checking understanding, and offering emotional support during often stressful processes.

This preparation ensures that scarce pro bono legal time is used effectively and ethically.

Demand and Unmet Need

Capacity remains limited. The surgery offers only three to four slots per month, and access is carefully managed to prioritise urgency and vulnerability.

Since February 2025, we have received 11 additional enquiries that we were unable to take on directly, referring clients instead to Citizens Advice and other services for housing, employment disputes, Universal Credit issues and, in two cases, detained individuals without legal representation.

We have also received referrals from trusted community organisations including FEWP, IRMO, Familias Diversas and Centro de Teología y Comunidad. This growing recognition reflects Info Latinos’ role as a trusted access point for migrants facing complex legal challenges.

Looking Ahead

This first year has demonstrated both the power of partnership and the scale of need. Legal insecurity affects stability, employment, family life and mental wellbeing. Early, accessible legal advice can prevent crises — including homelessness, detention and family separation.

We are deeply grateful to Duncan Lewis Solicitors for their professionalism, generosity and commitment to justice. Together, we have shown that when community organisations and legal experts work hand in hand, access to justice becomes more than an ideal — it becomes real.

As we move into our second year, we remain committed to strengthening this partnership and ensuring that those most excluded from the legal system are not left behind.

We are deeply grateful to Duncan Lewis Solicitors for their professionalism, generosity and commitment to access to justice.

Partnership matters. When community organisations and legal experts work together, justice becomes more accessible — especially for those most often excluded from it.

Here’s to continuing this important work in year two. 💛