On August 4, 2026, PILnet and the Asia Pacific Network of Refugees (APNOR) in partnership with fellow GRF Legal Community Pledge members – TrustLaw, Asia Pacific Refugee Rights Network (APRRN), MAP International, Asylum Services & Knowledge (ASK), Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer (HSF Kramer) and UNHCR held the Asia-Pacific Refugee Rights Pro Bono Workshop 2026.
The workshop was designed to help refugee-led organisations (RLOs), NGOs and other grassroots organisations working with refugees, asylum-seekers, stateless people and other displaced communities understand how free legal assistance (pro bono support) can strengthen their organisations and programmes.
In particular, the workshop explored how pro bono legal partnerships can help organisations operating in complex and challenging regulatory environments to strengthen their governance and operational resilience, manage legal risks, support advocacy and research, and expand access to justice.
The workshop:
- explained the three broad pillars of pro bono support: operational and organisational legal support; research and training; and direct assistance;
- shared practical examples of Asia-Pacific pro bono partnerships, including how the engagements were developed, the challenges encountered, and lessons for organisations and law firms;
- introduced the pathway from identifying a legal need to intake, collaborative scoping, project catalogue and pitch development, matching, and implementation; and
- answered participant questions about eligibility, project design, jurisdiction, language and accessibility, organisational capacity, matching, and law-firm engagement.
The workshop formed the first stage of a broader partnership-building process leading towards the Asia-Pacific Refugee Rights Pro Bono Pitching Roundtables, planned for September 29-30 2026.
Legal requests and Roundtable projects must be submitted by an organisation and should address organisational or programmatic legal needs. Project ideas can be shared through the PILnet Legal Assistance Intake Form.
Following submission, the PILnet team will review each request and contact organisations to discuss the next steps, including project scoping where appropriate.
Concept Note and Agenda Legal Assistance Intake Form Menu of Pro Bono OptionsTips for Developing a Successful Pro Bono Project