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About the SLF

The SLF supports strategic legal work in the UK which benefits asylum seekers, refugees and migrants. We define this as those:

  • Who are living in poverty, and
  • Who face significant disadvantage or discrimination in connection with their immigration status.

The SLF funds strategic legal work in any area of law where migrant groups experience disadvantage or discrimination as a result of migration status.

The SLF only supports strategic legal work carried out in the UK. We define this as work where the impact is likely to go beyond an individual case, and to result in changes to law, policy and practice that will benefit a wider group of people. Applications must be to fund one of two kinds of strategic legal work:

  • the research and development of cases pre-litigation including: gathering evidence to test a hypothesis or research to establish authorities’ policy and practice, identifying potential plaintiffs/applicants/appellants; researching whether to proceed; translating relevant material; and evaluating a litigation strategy.
  • third party “interventions” in existing cases, which allow a non-party intervener to assist the court in arriving in its decision in a case, acting as an amicus curiae, a friend of the court.

Find out more about how to apply to the SLF.

The SLF was established as a pilot by The Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund in October 2011, delivered in partnership with Trust for London and MigrationWork CIC. Since November 2012, the SLF has been a project of Trust for London. From April 2017 the SLF is being managed by the Immigration Law Practitioners’ Association (ILPA). The SLF is funded by Esmee Fairbairn Foundation, Unbound Philanthropy, Trust for London and Paul Hamlyn Foundation.