Indigenous Rights Legal Map
Mapping Legal Aid for Indigenous Peoples
Mapping Indigenous Rights Legal Clinics is an international research initiative aimed at improving Indigenous Peoples’ access to free legal support. Launched in 2026, the project maps legal clinics and organisations providing pro bono assistance on Indigenous rights.
The idea emerged at the UN Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in Geneva in July 2026, where Vaïtéa Baillif and Mathilda Lorkin recognised the need for greater connection between Indigenous rights legal clinics. Together with Zǐ Jiao, who joined the initiative through the Indigenous Studies Discussion Group at the University of Cambridge, they began developing the project.
The project aims to create a public, multilingual directory that helps Indigenous communities find relevant legal support, raises awareness of existing initiatives, and fosters collaboration and knowledge exchange between legal clinics worldwide.
Currently focusing on university-based legal clinics, the mapping will progressively expand to include Indigenous-led legal aid, state legal services, and relevant NGOs. The project is guided by respect for Indigenous data governance, consent, and the responsible use of information.
Get in Touch
Are you involved with, or do you know of, a legal clinic or organisation providing legal assistance to Indigenous Peoples? We would love to hear from you!
We welcome suggestions, contributions, feedback, and opportunities for collaboration to help expand the mapping and strengthen connections between Indigenous rights legal initiatives worldwide.
Co-convenor,
Legal mapping project co-manager
Zǐ JIAO
LLM student at the University of Edinburgh and holds an MPhil from the University of Cambridge's Department of Geography. Their research focuses on Indigenous rights and just transitions from legal and governance perspectives.
Co-secretary,
Legal mapping project co-manager
Mathilda Lorkin
PhD researcher at Queen, Mary, University of London. Her research focuses on the land-grabbing of Indigenous territories through international law. Trained in law, she also works on the problems raised by the interaction between Indigenous, environmental rights and the use of international forums by Indigenous
representatives.
Co-convenor,
Legal mapping project co-manager
Vaïtéa Baillif
PhD researcher at Université Libre de Bruxelles. Her current research focuses on indigenous rights’ legal clinics. Trained in law with a specialization in public international law, she is particularly interested in the decolonisation of the law and socio-legal studies.
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