DLA Piper launches legal education program for migrants

DLA Piper has announced the launch of the fourth edition of the “Know Your Rights” program in Portugal. This legal education and social empowerment initiative aims to support refugees, migrants, and asylum seekers in rebuilding their lives.

The program begins on October 29 and is promoted in collaboration with Fundação Portugal with UNHCR, the national partner of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Its core mission remains: to provide accessible, practical, and essential legal training to support integration in a new country.

Sofia Ribeiro Mendes, partner at DLA Piper responsible for the Pro Bono practice, highlights the program’s impact: “The Know Your Rights program is a concrete initiative that promotes access to legal knowledge as a tool for inclusion and empowerment. It is deeply rewarding to see, year after year, how participants engage with the program, understanding the value of this knowledge for their integration and for strengthening their autonomy.”

With a practical and collaborative approach, the program includes six in-person sessions, free of charge and conducted in English, covering topics such as the asylum process, employment law, housing, entrepreneurship, and financial education.

Since its creation by DLA Piper in 2017, the Know Your Rights program has benefited more than 3,000 people across 17 countries, in partnership with various local and international organizations. In Portugal, the initiative has grown with each edition, establishing itself as a space for sharing, empowerment, and integration.