Justice Without Borders, a non-profit organisation dedicated to supporting victims of labor exploitation, is shortlisted for the significant impact of its Legal Mentorship Programmes, which have been instrumental in defending the rights of migrant domestic workers (MDWs) in Asia.
The JWB Legal Mentorship Programmes are designed to empower MDWs in Hong Kong, Singapore and Indonesia. The programmes provide essential legal training and support to frontline workers and union leaders, who are often the first point of contact for MDWs experiencing abuse. They combine theoretical sessions with practical workshops, featuring speakers from law firms, UN agencies and government departments.
Pro bono impact
JWB has partnered with several prominent law firms across Asia to deliver these mentorship programmes in Hong Kong, Singapore and Indonesia, including Reed Smith.
The programmes are having a profound impact on the lives of MDWs. Participants reported a number of benefits, including a significant increase in confidence to advise MDWs and better understanding of the steps they could take to pursue a case if treated unfairly. The programmes’ impact is expected to expand organically as more caseworkers are equipped to become legal first responders and educators in their own communities.
Self-sustaining model
The Legal Mentorship Programmes aim to provide a sustainable and practical infrastructure for frontline caseworkers, who are often MDWs themselves. Through the programmes, they receive the support they need to pursue their legal rights. The direct involvement of volunteer lawyers from law firm partners has been crucial in educating, training and equipping these frontline caseworkers with the necessary skills to identify and support legal claim
Participants and mentors from law firms praise the programmes. Joyce Fong, counsel and lead of our relationship with JWB in Singapore, said: "Reed Smith’s partnership with Justice Without Borders underscores the firm’s commitment to advancing social justice and supporting vulnerable communities. We are deeply proud of the volunteers from our Singapore office, whose participation in these legal mentorship programmes has empowered migrant domestic workers to support others in their community on critical issues which they encounter regularly."
Reed Smith’s pro bono partnership with JWB spans across its Singapore and Hong Kong offices. Reed Smith lawyers have participated in JWB’s Legal Mentorship Programmes in Singapore and have supported the organisation’s casework in Hong Kong. This work is led by counsel Joyce Fong in Singapore, partner Janet Cheung and associates Cheri Leung and Gabriel Wan in Hong Kong, with support from associate Jessica Tagg in London from the EMEA Pro Bono Team.
Pro bono work allows Reed Smith to make a positive difference by providing free legal advice to individuals in need, charities and nonprofits. The firm’s lawyers provide tens of thousands of hours in free advice yearly to support the most vulnerable in their communities.