Training and Technical Assistance
We believe that quality legal representation can transform lives. We collaborate with lawyers, law firms and law schools, to support and grow the availability of quality legal services for people seeking asylum, establishing Hong Kong as a global hub of best practice in refugee protection.
If you are a mental health professional or an interpreter looking for training to better serve the Refugee and Asylum Seekers community, please reach out to pyschosocial@ask.org.hk for more information
LAWYERS
If you are a legal professional looking to collaborate on high-impact pro bono cases or projects, seeking technical assistance on a non-refoulement case you are handling, or wanting access to our training and practice resources, we’re here to work with you.
Practitioner Resources
Asia Pacific Asylum Library (APAL)
APAL is a free database designed to support asylum lawyers in Hong Kong and the Asia Pacific. You’ll find country of origin information (COI), case law summaries, practice advisories and a wide range of other practitioner resources specific to risk profiles and emerging issues more commonly seen in asylum claims in our region.
Online Modules for Legal Practitioners
Equip yourself with legal knowledge and practical skills to assist non-refoulement claimants in Hong Kong. This collection of online modules introduces practitioners to the foundational legal principles of non-refoulement protection and practical skills required to prepare a claim in a trauma-informed way.
Resources for Non-Refoulement Clients
These accessible guides on asylum procedures and immigration detention can be provided to clients who are undergoing the USM or related processes to help them understand their rights, prepare for their proceedings, and navigate the asylum system with confidence.
Training on Non-Refoulement Law & Practice
We offer an annual CPD-accredited training on Non-Refoulement Law & Practice, designed for lawyers assisting non-refoulement claimants in Hong Kong.
During this training you will:
Learn the legal and procedural framework to assist your client to secure non-refoulement protection in Hong Kong
Gain practical skills to work directly and effectively with clients in vulnerable situations, adopting a trauma-informed approach
Complete online modules at your pace + attend live expert-led sessions
We also offer CPD-accredited training on emerging areas of non-refoulement law. Recent training sessions have covered Gender Based Violence & Non-Refoulement Protection; Assisting Non-Refoulement Claimants in Immigration Detention; and Representing Child Claimants post Fabio Arlyn Timogan and Others v Evan Ruth Esq [2020] HKCA 971.
Our training is free-of-charge for pro bono partners, impact members, duty lawyers, court liaison officers, and community legal partners. If you would like to be notified of our training schedule, please email us at info@ask.org.hk (subject line: Training on Non-Refoulement Law & Practice)
Case Assistance
If you are advising or representing a client who is seeking non-refoulement protection, we are here to assist! We understand the resource and time limitations of publicly funded services, and can take the time needed to work through complex cases.
In addition to the free-to-access practice resources, we can assist you with:
Case preparation including by taking and drafting witness statements, researching and preparing tailored COI bundles, preparing legal memoranda, identifying experts (country condition, medical, psychological and other)
Access to welfare or therapy for your client. Where your client is experiencing housing, healthcare, or other welfare challenges, or experiencing acute symptoms or otherwise coming to terms with traumatic experiences, this can hinder their ability to participate in the USM process. Contact our team for tailored professional support.
To engage us for case assistance or refer a client to our welfare or therapy team, please email us at info@ask.org.hk (subject line: “Case Assistance”).
Pro Bono Partnerships
We partner with leading law firms and individual lawyers to bridge the access to justice gap for refugees, asylum seekers, and other displaced people in Hong Kong.
Through our innovative pro bono model, we provide meaningful opportunities for legal professionals to contribute to high-impact, often precedent-setting cases, while receiving dedicated support every step of the way. Click here to find out more about our Pro Bono Partnerships.
LAW STUDENTS
We are committed to growing the next generation of asylum and community lawyers. We welcome university students—especially those pursuing a degree in law or passionate about refugee rights and social justice—to get involved with ASK.
If you are a senior high school student or a school representative, looking for engaging experiential programmes on law and social justice to give you a head start, find out more about our Young Advocates Programme here.
Legal Internships
Our year-round legal internships offer highly motivated students the chance to explore careers in refugee rights, social justice, and public interest law. Interns gain valuable insight into community lawyering in Hong Kong while supporting our legal team with casework, research, and client engagement. Keep an eye out for postings for Legal Internship opportunities.
Refugee Law Clinic
With a long-standing commitment to develop the next generation of community and public interest lawyers, ASK has been delivering clinical legal education to penultimate year law students since 2012. We have partnered with leading academic institutions, including local universities, as well as the University of Cambridge, Stanford University, Queensland University of Technology and the University of Queensland, to offer credit bearing clinical education courses.
We do not have a Refugee Law Clinic this year. If you are a law student passionate about refugee rights and social justice, please consider our legal internships. If you are a law school interested in collaborating on a Refugee Law Clinic, please reach out! info@ask.org.hk
