A Manchester law firm, Barings Law, collaborates with a refugee charity to offer free legal services, aiding family reunifications.
- Barings Law joins forces with Breaking Barriers, assisting refugees and asylum seekers in reuniting with families for Christmas.
- The law firm provides pro bono services, addressing legal challenges refugees face due to strict requirements in family reunion cases.
- Breaking Barriers, established in 2015, partners with Barings Law, aiding over 2,300 refugees with employment and integration services.
- Immigration adviser Jamila Nelson highlights the importance of reassurance and humane support for refugees navigating complex legal processes.
Barings Law, a Manchester-based firm, has formed a strategic collaboration with Breaking Barriers, a charity dedicated to supporting refugees and asylum seekers. This initiative aims to facilitate the reunification of families in time for Christmas by offering pro bono legal services to individuals who have often fled conflict and persecution. The partnership reflects a commitment to social welfare, ensuring those in need receive vital legal assistance.
The law firm’s efforts are concentrated on assisting refugees in overcoming the stringent legal challenges associated with family reunification in the UK. As Jamila Nelson, an immigration adviser at Barings Law, notes, “Sometimes all the refugees need is reassurance, to know that they’ve been heard and that they will be helped.” This underscores the firm’s focus on providing empathetic support while navigating complex immigration laws.
Breaking Barriers, since its inception in 2015, has facilitated the employment and education of over 2,300 refugees. The charity seeks to bolster its impact through the partnership with Barings Law, having handled up to three cases per week with successful outcomes, including reuniting a man with his wife in the UK. The significance of this collaboration is highlighted by the legal expertise Barings Law brings, complementing Breaking Barriers’ employment and integration services.
Reem Othman, Senior Employment and Integration Adviser at Breaking Barriers, emphasised the crucial relief provided by Barings Law amid pressures on legal aid services. She stated, “In light of the pressure on legal aid services for refugees and people seeking asylum, having a law firm willing to offer their team’s expertise pro bono, was a great relief.” This partnership not only alleviates pressure on the charity’s advisers but also empowers refugees to build new lives in the UK.
The collaboration aims to significantly increase the number of refugees assisted, targeting 4,000 individuals annually by 2030. Barings Law also extends its support through translation services, ensuring that language barriers do not hinder refugees from receiving necessary help. Mrs Nelson expressed the fulfilment derived from this work, stating, “It’s incredibly fulfilling to know that we’re making a meaningful impact on these individuals’ journeys to a better life in the UK.”
The collaboration between Barings Law and Breaking Barriers exemplifies the transformative power of legal aid in reshaping the lives of refugees.
