Sidley’s London office is launching a major new pro bono partnership with Not Beyond Redemption, a charity that provides legal advice to women currently in prison or who have been released. Through this project, Sidley lawyers will staff pro bono clinics in women’s prisons across the United Kingdom to help mothers re-establish critical access and relationships with their children. Sidley will provide support to these vulnerable women both during and after their prison sentences.
The lack of access women prisoners have to their children, and other systemic impacts of incarceration on individuals and their families, are longstanding challenges for society. Every year, thousands of children are placed in foster care and children’s homes or put up for adoption because their mothers are in prison. Not Beyond Redemption and Sidley are committed to reconnecting these women with their children to help them on a path toward a better future.
“We are thrilled that Sidley has agreed to partner with us,” said Camilla Baldwin, founder of Not Beyond Redemption. “Sidley is training 50 of its volunteer lawyers in aspects of family and criminal law, which will enable us to take on up to 50 additional cases each year. This huge boost to our resources means that we can increase our reach and help more women gain and maintain access to their children. This is an amazing step forward, and we are very excited.”