The Lowenstein Center for the Public Interest has been nominated for an Impact Award by the Thomson Reuters TrustLaw Institute in recognition of its collaboration on “A Guide to Workers’ Rights in Nigeria.” The guide, which examines the legal framework governing labor rights in Nigeria, including national, international, and regional human rights laws, as well as international labor laws, was produced in partnership with the Thomson Reuters Foundation's global pro bono legal service, TrustLaw.
The TrustLaw Awards celebrate the remarkable legal teams and pro bono projects undertaken by the TrustLaw network’s members for NGOs, independent media, and social enterprises around the world. Nominees are selected from the hundreds of pro bono projects TrustLaw facilitates each year.
Lowenstein lawyers, led by public interest counsel Christina Holder, prepared the comprehensive guide at the request of two Nigerian civil society organizations (CSOs), Children and Young People Living for Peace (CYPLP) and the International Society for Peace and Safety (ISOPS). Lawyers in Nigeria now use the guide to provide legal consultations and representation to workers across the country. Lowenstein lawyers also prepared a companion plain language ‘Know Your Rights’ guide that the CSOs distributed to workers and employers across the country to raise awareness of workers’ rights and employers’ duties under Nigerian law.
Holder says: “I am thrilled by the project’s impact! Our clients have used the plain language ‘Know Your Rights’ guide to educate 10,000 Nigerian workers on their labor rights. Pro bono lawyers in Nigeria have used our research guide to represent workers in discrimination and wage disputes. We participated in legal training sessions and look forward to more this year.”
For 15 years, TrustLaw has helped transform the pro bono landscape: expanding access to legal support for NGOs and social enterprises at the frontlines of social change and working with law firms and in-house legal departments to develop and strengthen their pro bono practices. TrustLaw has grown to become the world’s largest global pro bono network, and this year celebrated facilitating over 10,000 connections between the world’s leading legal teams and high-impact organizations.
Winners will be announced the week of the 23 June on the TrustLaw website and the Foundation’s LinkedIn channel.
About the Lowenstein Center for the Public Interest
From its founding, Lowenstein Sandler has been committed to advancing the public interest and serving communities in need. The Lowenstein Center for the Public Interest embodies this commitment, directing the firm’s strong pro bono program and other forms of civic and philanthropic engagement. Through these efforts, the center addresses significant social problems and offers meaningful assistance to low-income and other marginalized people, along with the organizations that advocate for and support them. This work engages the full range of the firm’s talents and reflects the core values that imbue all of the firm’s efforts: to perform work of the highest quality in a manner that maximizes results for our clients and causes.
About Lowenstein Sandler LLP
Lowenstein Sandler LLP is a national law firm with over 350 lawyers based in New York, Palo Alto, New Jersey, Utah, and Washington, D.C. The firm represents leaders in virtually every sector of the global economy, with particular emphasis on investment funds, life sciences, and technology. Recognized for its entrepreneurial spirit and high standard of client service, the firm is committed to the interests of its clients, colleagues, and communities.
