Volunteering in the US for Capital Defence

Aim

I am raising funds to support my volunteering work (to cover the costs of travel, insurance, accommodation, and day-to-day living expenses)

I am currently a volunteer for Amicus, a charity fighting for those facing a death sentence in the US. The charity works to ensure that those on death row receive a fair trial — a fundamental right that should be afforded to everyone, regardless of race, economic background, or social status. In my current role as a Casework Volunteer, I support the defence team by gathering and presenting information about the client to inform mitigation during the appeals process. Effective mitigation can lead to a life sentence being imposed instead of the death penalty, and often highlights how discrimination and systemic failures at earlier stages of a trial may have contributed to an unjust outcome. 

I have recently been offered the incredible opportunity to go and work in the US for two months this year (and one month remotely when I begin my master's in September) to continue volunteering in a capital defence office, working on death row cases. I will be based in New Orleans, Louisiana, in the Capital Appeals Project, continuing my work in mitigation, but with the additional opportunity to work with the defence teams in-person. 

This placement will allow me to build on the experience I have gained during my volunteer work and develop a deeper understanding of the US justice system, as well as the complex legal and human rights issues that surround capital punishment. I hope to carry this experience into a future career in human rights law as a barrister and to continue contributing to work that upholds fairness, dignity, and due process.

This project successfully funded on 17th June 2025