The Legal Education Foundation

The Legal Education Foundation (LEF) is an independent grant-making foundation operating across the United Kingdom. It was originally founded in 1962 as The College of Law and reconstituted in its present form in 2012 following the sale of The College of Law. The Foundation operates as a registered charity with the number 271297.

Purpose

The LEF aims to build a society that upholds the principles of justice and fairness. It supports communities across the UK by funding organisations that use law to secure rights and address systemic failures. The foundation's work is underpinned by a commitment to rebalancing power and confronting injustice, advocating for policy improvements and rule of law principles.

Activities

Through its funding programs, the LEF distributes approximately £6 million annually to charitable works across the UK. Key initiatives include supporting the next generation of social welfare lawyers through the Justice First Fellowship and collaborating on Justice Together, a funder collaboration aimed at transforming access to justice in the UK immigration system.

Governance

The organization is led by Chief Executive Matthew Smerdon, with Paddy Sloan serving as the Chair of Governors. The foundation has a team of about 23 employees and 7 trustees.

Impact

By fostering a deeper understanding of how law can be used for positive change, the LEF plays a significant role in promoting fairness and justice across the UK. Its efforts focus on empowering communities and ensuring that public systems uphold the rule of law. The foundation's financial resources originate from the sale of The College of Law in 2012, making it an independent funder.

[1] https://thelegaleducationfoundation.org/about-the-legal-education-foundation/background [2] https://thelegaleducationfoundation.org [3] https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/271297 [4] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legal_Education_Foundation [5] https://thecharitychampion.com/charity/the-legal-education-foundation/