Appeal for volunteer lawyers for Lesvos migrant help

Volunteer lawyers to spend a period advising desperate migrants on the Greek island of Lesvos are being sought under a scheme being promoted by the Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe (CCBE).

Organised jointly by the CCBE and the German Bar Association (DAV), European Lawyers in Lesvos aims to send European lawyers to Lesvos to support Greek lawyers in providing legal assistance to migrants requiring international protection.

More than 4,000 migrants and refugees are currently on the island, EU member states are currently sending numerous police officers and asylum law experts to support the efforts of the Greek authorities. The project organisers strongly believe that in order to ensure due process of law, every person requesting or requiring international protection should be able to consult a lawyer.

Under the project, at least two volunteer lawyers from CCBE member organisations will work on a pro bono and temporary basis (expenses will be covered) in collaboration with their Greek colleagues, giving preliminary legal advice. If that leads to in administrative or court proceedings, contact will be made with a Greek bar or a member lawyer.

Another aim of the project is to produce and distribute, in collaboration with other organisations, general legal information for migrants requiring international protection.

Project lawyers will be required to provide weekly reports on their activities.

The team will consist of a small number of lawyers from European countries based on a roster for short term missions (minimum two weeks), supported by ground staff engaged on a longer term basis.

Lawyers who would like to participate should also have training and/or experience in asylum law and the law of international protection, and a good command of English (knowledge of Arabic would be an asset).

For further information and an application form, see www.europeanlawyersinlesvos.eu/