Oxfam Novib is committed to a fair and safe world. They support people and organizations who stand up for equality. From their office in The Hague around 300 employees work on key issues such as human rights, climate justice, fair economies, and emergency relief in times of disaster and conflict. The organization is part of Oxfam, an international confederation active in over 80 countries worldwide. When it comes to legal support, Oxfam Novib operates with a small, dedicated team that handles a wide range of legal matters. Pro bono legal support often proves very helpful. One of the lawyers explains: “With such a small team, you simply can’t have all the expertise in-house. Especially when it comes to specialized questions or high-stakes issues, external expertise is essential. It’s important that our legal foundation is solid, without diverting resources away from our core mission.”
In these situations, Oxfam Novib turns to pro bono legal assistance. “We’ve been working with Pro Bono Connect for quite some time. For instance, we’ve been connected with a lawyer specialized in tenancy law when we encountered an issue in that area. The collaboration with the lawyer was smooth and professional. The lawyer was thoughtful, responsive, and engaged with our questions right away.” Oxfam Novib highlights how valuable pro bono support is for civil society organizations: “It helps us map out risks and make well-informed decisions. That prevents problems and strengthens the organization.
The advice we received through Pro Bono Connect has proven to be truly crucial in some
matters.” For Oxfam Novib, pro bono legal aid is a vital part of operating effectively. “It allows us to work on a solid legal foundation, even with limited resources, something that’s absolutely
essential in the complex context we work in.”