Legal Action

How do we work ?

We provide a range of legal and advocacy mechanisms to assist our clients. The decision as to which mechanism is most appropriate is made on a case-by-case basis and ultimately depends upon what the client wants. It is the client’s case and LAW places them at the centre of decision making. Our approach is based on our four pillars:

Think Tank for Creative Lawyering

LAW is comprised of a network and think tank of prominent human rights lawyers and advisors from the Middle East, Africa, Europe, America and South America who advise LAW on the development of innovative legal strategies aimed at effecting legal change. LAW draws on this expertise through hosting expert thematic and geographical roundtables, producing preliminary opinions, position papers and reports.

Legal Assistance and Empowerment

People living in conflict contexts generally experience both an increased vulnerability to human rights violations and a decreased ability to access justice. We work with existing grassroots networks to increase rights awareness and knowledge of the availability of legal avenues for redress. We place emphasis on vulnerable groups such as women, children, displaced people and indigenous groups. We also work with government institutions to build their capacity to protect and empower their citizens through drafting legislation, policies and guidelines.

Strategic Casework

LAW’s strategic casework aims to establish important legal precedents, effect changes in domestic and global legislation or policy and to provide legal redress to communities. Casework ranges from civil litigation, criminal prosecution to complaints lodged with relevant domestic, regional or international bodies. A successful case can lead to injunctions that prevent human right violations, the provision of compensation to those whose rights have been violated and accountability for perpetrators. Even if a case is unsuccessful, it can still act as a deterrent to those involved in human rights violations and positively influence public opinion. Read more on how we identify our cases:

Legal Advocacy

LAW advocates domestically, regionally and internationally for changes in laws, policies and practices through high-level panel discussions, bilateral consultations and the use of social media. LAW believes that the ‘Court of Public Opinion’ can often impact change much quicker than the outcome from legal cases.