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JUSTICE ON THE MOVE: UWI Faculty of Law/NGO Collaborate to Bring Legal Expertise to Communities

For Release Upon Receipt - May 9, 2025

St. Augustine


The UWI St. Augustine, May 8th, 2025 – The Faculty of Law (FoL) at The University of the West Indies (The UWI) St. Augustine Campus, in collaboration with the international NGO Incarceration Nations Network, recently concluded a series of free legal aid clinics aimed at improving access to justice for underserved communities in Trinidad and Tobago.

  The outreach initiative, titled “Justice on the Move”, culminated on March 22 with its final legal aid clinic at The UWI St. Augustine Campus, following earlier sessions held in El Dorado and Mayaro. The project brought legal and social support directly to those who often face significant barriers in navigating the complexities of the legal system.

 “We brought together social workers from the Social Work Unit from the Department of Behavioural Sciences in the Faculty of Social Sciences; colleagues from the Faculty of Law at The UWI Cave Hill, and our very own full-time and adjunct staff in the FoL at The UWI St Augustine,” said Dr Timothy Affonso, Lecturer and Deputy Dean (Student Matters) at the Faculty of Law, who led the initiative.

 The project was supported by the JB Fernandes Trust and administered by Rockefeller Philanthropic Advisors. Dr Affonso emphasised the importance of removing obstacles to justice for those in need:

“Access to justice, inclusive of legal services, is vital to ensure that persons’ rights are respected. For law to be impactful, it must facilitate and create change.”

 He added that the project was equally transformative for the students involved.

“Our students were allowed to see what law can and ought to do—help people. This is the most important dimension of this project.”

 The initiative not only provided valuable services to the public but also created opportunities for students and staff to engage directly with communities, deepening their understanding of the law’s social relevance.

 For Anita Ali, Administrative Officer in the Faculty of Law and a doctoral candidate in Educational Leadership, the experience was deeply personal.

 “There was one particular day when an older couple came to our El Dorado clinic all the way from Mayaro. Visibly stressed, they both shared how difficult it had been to navigate the legal system on their own,” she recalled.

 Ali noted that the emotional impact of such interactions was significant. “They left with a sense of clarity and hope.” She reflected that moments like the gentleman returning to thank the team were the most meaningful part of Justice on the Move.

 The Faculty of Law remains committed to advancing access to justice and empowering students through service-learning opportunities that make a tangible difference.

 

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