On 3 December, the work of King's Legal Clinic was recognised at the 2025 LawWorks Pro Bono Awards at the Law Society.
King's Legal Clinic aims to complement, not replace legal aid, and targets its services in areas of greatest need, including housing, employment, family, and immigration law. As well as supporting access to justice, the Clinic provides transformative experiential learning opportunities for students. In 2024-25, demand for its services grew significantly with more than 800 enquiries (a 60% increase from the previous year).
The award recognises the hard work and impact of King's Legal Clinic over the last year. Significant highlights over the last year have included:
- Health and Homelessness project: The Clinic published a report highlighting that cuts to frontline support are driving people experiencing homelessness to attend A&E. As a result of this work, a new advice service has been established where law students will work alongside the Homelessness Team at King's College Hospital to support patients experiencing homelessness.
- Refugee Family Reunion (RFR) project: With no legal aid for family reunification and significant barriers identified in a King's report, the Clinic created a groundbreaking initiative with DNA@King's and Refugee Legal Support. Pairing law students with biomedical science students, the RFR Clinic combines legal submissions with DNA testing to help families reconnect.
- Domestic abuse injunction form-filling CourtNav service: This service guides survivors through court applications for non-molestation and occupation orders. Students receive specialist training to respond sensitively to clients facing ongoing abuse.
- Human Rights and Environment Clinic: As well as supporting communities in innovative public interest cases at the intersection of environmental and human rights law, the clinic has continued its ground-breaking work on rivers with the Rights of Nature Toolkit: How to Protect Rivers in England and Wales.
The impact of the Clinic over the last year has been impressive, with particular achievements including:
- Windrush Justice Clinic work: In partnership with Southwark Law Centre and community groups, Students have assisted survivors with complex compensation claims, recovering around £500,000 to date. Clinic reports have influenced systemic reform, cited in Parliament and legal challenges against the Home Office.
- In July, the WCS research was brought to life through an interactive theatre production, the Promise, working with students and Windrush survivors and theatre-makers in collaboration with members of the Windrush community. It engaged key stakeholders and the public, raising awareness of systemic barriers and the need for reform
- Disability benefits appeals with Z2K: Students helped vulnerable clients denied welfare support, achieving a 90% success rate and securing £123,875.50 in benefits.
- Housing advice: The Clinic handled more than 40 cases, including Clinic students helping an elderly, disabled client regain access to her garden by securing vital repairs through engagement with her local authority.
I am delighted that the work and approach of the Clinic has been recognised. As a team we strike to target our pro bono services in the areas of greatest need through innovative multi-disciplinary partnerships, informed by our research and working closely with impacted communities. Our numerous partners, including law firms, barristers' chambers, NGOs, advocacy and lived experience groups, faculties across King's, artists, and most of all our dedicated students are central to our impact and success. A heartfelt thanks to them all.
Shaila Pal, Director of King's Legal Clinic
The LawWorks Pro Bono Awards recognise and celebrate outstanding achievement in legal pro bono by organisations and individuals across England and Wales. The event was held at the Law Society of England and Wales on Chancery Lane and brought together practitioners, partners and supporters from across the profession.
The awards were attended by King's Legal Clinic Director, Shaila Pal, students Pardis Pasdar and Joshua Wong, Legal Clinic Coordinator Nizar Cano and Clinic Manager Marta Bylica.
