About us
The Asylum Lawyers’ Network was founded in the early 1990s by UNHCR Office Vienna and Caritas Austria with the intention of promoting the exchange of experience and knowledge in asylum law counselling and representation and providing destitute asylum seekers with specialised and qualified legal representation in proceedings. Since then, it has developed into a stable and intensive cooperation between several aid organisations working in the field of asylum and lawyers specialised in asylum and immigration law.
Since then, it has developed into a stable and intensive cooperation between several aid organisations working in the field of asylum and lawyers specialised in asylum and immigration law.
The initial focus was on providing destitute asylum seekers in selected cases with (free) specialised legal representation in proceedings
From legal representation to obtaining landmark case law
Now, the focus lies in obtaining landmark rulings from the Austrian supreme courts through strategic litigation. The aim is therefore to obtain decisions that are not only relevant to individual cases but benefit a larger group of affected persons by having fundamental legal issues in the field of asylum clarified by the highest courts – if necessary by means of a preliminary ruling request to the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU). The overall aim is to improve the legal protection of refugees in Austria in general.
If you would like to learn more about the Asylum Lawyers’ Network its activities, we recommend reading our article (in German) in „Strategische Prozessführung in Österreich“, edited by Teresa Weber, 207-227, Nomos, 2024 (e-book, open access version).
What we are not
The Asylum Lawyers’ Network functions solely as a network of aid organisations and self-employed lawyers. It is not an independent counselling or aid organisation!
You cannot receive individual counselling or support through us. Cases supported within the framework of the Asylum Lawyers’ Network are only taken on at the request of legal advisors – and after thorough screening by the coordination team.
Are you seeking support or advice from a specialist lawyer?
If so, please contact one of the project lawyers.
Please be aware that legal representation by a self-employed lawyer will usually incur costs for you.”
Do you require free assistance with your proceedings or legal advice?
If so, please contact a legal counselling centre. You can find the contact details of legal counselling centre on the homepage of our partner organisation Asylkoordination.
SozialMarie 2026
On 11 May 2026, the NWAA was awarded one of the 15 prizes selected by the jury of the SozialMarie – Prize for Social Innovation.
The jury appreciated: “The NWAA combines top-tier asylum expertise with strategic litigation to safeguard humanitarian standards in Austria. In a field with few specialised lawyers, it ensures that complex human rights cases are pursued at the highest professional level, preventing systemic gaps in legal protection. Through a distinctive bottom-up approach, it connects
individual cases to structural change and carries them through all instances, including European courts, creating lasting impact on national and EU-wide practice and legal standards.”
Besides the prize of the jury, the NWAA also received the Audience Award of SozialMarie.
Find out more in the brochure SozialMarie Prize for Social Innovation 2026 which you can also download from the SozialMarie website:
European Pro Bono Award 2013
In 2013, the NWAA received the European Pro Bono Award for Exemplary Partnership in the Public Interest. According to the award organiser, PILnet, the prize recognised the joint efforts of the network’s members to support human rights work in Austria – in particular, their successful litigation before the Austrian supreme courts and the European Court of Human Rights on behalf of asylum seekers and refugees. The NWAA demonstrates exceptional commitment and plays a leading role in pro bono work.