The firm is working together with the Queen Mary Legal Advice Centre to offer free legal assistance
Mishcon de Reya is helping to take on discrimination issues in the UK with the Black Justice Project, which has been launched through a partnership with the Queen Mary University of London Legal Advice Centre.
The project involves the establishment of a free clinic that will offer legal assistance to the Black community in the areas of employment discrimination, Windrush immigration and actions against the police.
“This initiative is undertaking the essential work needed to help fill the void in the provision of legal advice to the Black community, that specifically focuses on the community's needs and the pervasive long-term discrimination that leads to ever-restricting access to justice,” said Molly Javangwe, a paralegal at Mishcon who also serves as the firm’s point of contact for the Black Justice Project.
The firm said that through the initiative, members of the Black community who have experienced employment discrimination can receive free legal advice. The clinic will also advise those who may have claims under the Equality Act.
In addition, the Black Justice Project will support those with potential civil action claims against the police for “false imprisonment, unlawful detention and loss of liberty,” Mishcon said.
“It will provide assistance to people who have faced misuse of private information claims, malicious prosecution, as well as trespass to property or goods,” the firm said.
The Black Justice Project also aids those who are seeking financial compensation through the Windrush Compensation Scheme for losses suffered in the Windrush generation, Mishcon said.
“This includes cases of people being denied employment, housing or where people may have mistakenly been detained or threatened with deportation,” the firm said.
Queen Mary Legal Advice Centre director Frances Ridout said that she hoped the project would “empower those facing discrimination as well as support actions arising from the Windrush scandal.”
“As the most diverse university in the Russell Group, Queen Mary’s Legal Advice Centre has a proud history of serving the wide range of legal needs within our East London community,” Ridout said.
The Black Justice Project clinic was established on 12 November.
