As someone who dedicates a significant part of her practice to pro bono work, Sangeetha drafted the submission on behalf of Goldsmith Chamber’s immigration team for the Pro Bono category of the Lexis Nexis Legal Awards 2020. We are proud to have been shortlisted for the award and celebrate Lexis Nexis for acknowledging what an unusually crucial part of the legal profession, pro bono work is.
The submission entitled ‘Justice for all in a Hostile Environment’ highlighted the team’s tireless dedication, energy and passion – pro bono being front and centre of Sangeetha’s individual practice.
As immigration practitioners we have seen the communities we serve become increasingly squeezed from both ends. Deep cuts to legal aid in this field have left huge numbers of vulnerable migrants entirely unable to afford representation. This, coupled with legislative restrictions aimed at creating a’ hostile environment’, makes access to good representation all the more necessary and urgent for vulnerable migrant communities.
Goldsmith Chambers’ immigration team strives to bridge this gap by working with our incredible, inspiration partners, to whom we owe an enormous debt of gratitude. Sangeetha’s team in chambers works with: Cassandra Centre, a charity supporting victims of domestic abuse, RAMFEL who support destitute and homeless migrants, the British Red Cross who assist with refugee family reunion cases, Bail for Immigration Detainees, UKLGIG who support LGBTQ+ people through the asylum system, and FENIX an NGO based in Lesvos, Greece.
Sangeetha continues to undertake a significant amount of pro bono work. She is currently instructed pro bono by Hogan Lovells to advise on the feasibility of using international sanctions and terrorist financing legislation to fund reparations for victims of sexual violence in conflict through a global fund. She continues to work pro bono to promote structural change for asylum seekers in Greece, and sits on the Board of Fenix, Chambers’ partner NGO in Lesvos.