Greece Pro Bono Collaborative

““For me as a lawyer, [the Greece Pro Bono Collaborative] represents what we’re really all about””
— Clive Stafford Smith, Reprieve

The Greece Pro Bono Collaborative is a collaboration between the ELIL and sevven international law firms – Allen & Overy Shearman, Ashurst, Charles Russell Speechlys, Clyde & Co, Dentons, Orrick and White & Case – who help ELIL by seconding their lawyers to support our team.

Volunteers from the law firms are seconded to ELIL for two weeks and work closely with our teams. During the Covid-19 lockdowns, this support was provided remotely. Today, we also welcome in-person secondees.

Over the past five years, the partnership has provided ELIL with more than 200 volunteers. We are very grateful for the support of these firms and their lawyers. 

 Testimonies

 Recognition

The Greece Pro Bono Collaborative has been selected as the recipient of four separate awards in recognition of its work to provide legal assistance to asylum seekers in Greece:

  • the 2020 LawWorks Best International Pro Bono Award

  • the 2020 PILnet Pro Bono Publico Award

  • the 2020 Innovation in Social Responsibility Award (Financial Times Innovative Lawyers Awards Europe)

  • the 2020 CSR Innovation Award (Legal Week Social Innovation Awards)

“This project has provided vital legal assistance to countless individuals who would not have otherwise received it and allowed many people to secure asylum and avoid a return to countries where they were certain to confront the possibility of persecution or death.”