How to apply
The Strategic Legal Fund is managed by the Immigration Law Practitioners’ Association (ILPA).
1. Read the funding guidelines
Please read the funding guidelines carefully to check whether your proposed work fits with what the SLF funds.
You should also check out the list of previous SLF grants to make sure your proposal does not duplicate any existing work.
Prospective applicants need to get in touch with ILPA to outline their proposal. If your request for funding fits the eligibility criteria (outlined on pages 5-9 of the funding guidelines), we send out the application form to complete. This is to save you and us time and resources.
2. Any questions?
After reading the funding guidelines, if you are unsure as to whether your work fits or would like to discuss an idea for an application then please contact ILPA using the details below.
3. Complete our application form
If you have been in touch with ILPA and your proposal fits our eligibility criteria, please fill in the Word application form which we will email you.
We only accept SLF applications written using the Word application form. We do not accept applications in any other format. If you have any problems please contact us.
4. Closing dates
There are usually six closing dates for applications during the year, roughly every two months.
Applications must be received by 5pm on the closing date. Applications received after the deadline will not be considered until the next closing date.
5. Processing your application
ILPA’s in-house team will check all applications to ensure they are complete, valid and meet the eligibility criteria outlined on pages 5-9 of the funding guidelines. ILPA will contact applicants if further information is needed and, where possible, to discuss and check the details of the application.
6. Expert Panel
All eligible applications received by the deadline will normally be considered at the next Expert Panel meeting.
A minimum of three Expert Panel members will consider the applications and meet to agree on recommendations for funding. Where there are conflicts of interest, Expert Panel members will not be involved in assessing the relevant applications.
7. Application decision
Following the recommendation from the Expert Panel, the ILPA decision-making panel will make the final decision on whether to award a grant.
You will normally hear within six weeks of the closing date whether or not the SLF has offered a grant to your organisation.
8. Contact details
If you have any queries, please contact ILPA on SLF@ilpa.org.uk.