New body to fund legal actions for wider social change
Tuesday 7th March 2023
Law for Change, a new organisation created to use the law as a tool to deliver wider social change, is being launched today.
By supporting legal claims that can help change the law for wider public good, it aims to increase access to justice, clarify the rights of under-represented groups and bring lasting reforms.
Law for Change is to be launched at an event involving members of the legal profession, social justice campaigners and philanthropists at the headquarters of Kingsley Napley, in London, on Tuesday 7th March 2023.
The organisation has been established as a community interest company by its three founders, Stephen Kinsella of the Laura Kinsella Foundation, David Graham of Changing Ideas and law reformer Charles Keidan.
A panel of over 30 senior legal advisors provides expert advice to Law for Change on which cases to support. It is a funder of last resort supporting cases with a tangible moral purpose and a clear potential for legal success.
Applications for funding are made by legal representatives on behalf of their clients. Alongside the founders’ own contributions, the fund has received early support from other philanthropic foundations and individuals.
Mr Kinsella, a former partner at law firm Sidley and specialist in EU competition law, said:
“Throughout history, the law has been used as a tool for social change and we want to support legal claims that have the potential to bring wider impact for society.”
David Graham, philanthropist and Law for Change co-founder, said:
“Through Law for Change we and other funders believe we can make a real difference both for those bringing specific legal claims and,crucially, for society too.”
Charles Keidan, whose own legal case in 2019 resulted in a change in the law allowing all couples to seek civil partnerships, said:
“I am living proof of the way that a particular legal case can bring wider social impact. We want to support other cases to ensure that the law helps to reflect and accelerate social progress.”
Law for Change has already backed several cases including:
A judicial review led by Bhatt Murphy challenging government failure to implement Grenfell Inquiry recommendations on emergency evacuation plans for disabled people.
A case in the High Court challenging the Government’s Rwanda asylum policy.
A case brought by Liberty challenging the Metropolitan Police on record keeping
Lana Adamou, of Liberty said:
“The indemnity provided by Law for Change gave our clients the protection they needed to pursue their challenge. In short, we could not have done it without their support.”
