About us
Behind every court case and every reunited family is a community of people who believe justice must be accessible to all. Since 2017, AsyLex has grown from a small volunteer group into a nationwide NGO and international partner in the support for refugee rights. Today, over 200 volunteers and a dedicated office team work together to make legal protection a reality: locally in Switzerland and globally through our partnerships.
Access to Justice Must Not Be a Privilege
Over 120 million people worldwide are displaced. While laws exist to protect them, this protection often fails in practice. Language barriers, a lack of information, and complex procedures create a gap between a person's rights and their ability to claim them, leaving many without access to a fair trial. That is why our model is built to be different. We tackle this challenge directly by providing free, specialized legal advice through our dedicated volunteer teams. By operating digitally, we remove physical and financial barriers, making our services accessible to anyone who needs them. Our work is human-centered, using technology to be more efficient and responsive, ensuring we can provide powerful, high-quality support where it is needed most.
Our story: from Inspiration to Impact
The story of AsyLex begins with a vision. Our founder, Lea Hungerbühler, witnessed firsthand the critical need for accessible legal support while volunteering for an NGO on a Greek island. She saw how digital technology could be harnessed to provide crucial legal aid to refugees, an experience that inspired her to establish AsyLex in Switzerland in 2017. What started as a small initiative has grown into a vital resource, powered by over 200 volunteers, including lawyers, jurists, and translators, who all share a commitment to human rights.
Meet our Founder
Lea Hungerbühler is an accomplished attorney, a passionate human rights advocate, and the driving force behind AsyLex. With a distinguished career in international law and her role as Vice President of the Cantonal Court in Basel-Landschaft, she brings immense expertise to our mission.
After earning her LL.M. from Harvard Law School, Lea was inspired to found AsyLex in 2017 to apply her legal knowledge directly to the service of human rights. Her innovative approach to providing digital, accessible legal aid has earned her significant recognition, including the prestigious Prix Caritas in 2022. As President of AsyLex, she continues to lead the organization’s mission to ensure the most vulnerable have a powerful and effective voice in the legal system.
Our Vision & Mission
We believe rights only matter if they can be enforced. Our work is guided by a clear vision and mission: to facilitate access to justice for asylum seekers by closing the significant gaps in legal information and representation that prevent refugees from asserting their basic rights.
- Access to justice to ensure refugees can claim their rights in practice, not just on paper.
- Innovation for impact using LegalTech, digital tools, and new legal strategies to reach more people.
- Global & local combining grassroots expertise in Switzerland with international partnerships.
- Lasting impact by building knowledge through education events, workshops, and shared experiences.
Learn more about us
Meet our Team
Our dedicated office team and over 200 volunteers bring legal, linguistic, and lived expertise to every case. Together, we ensure quality, innovation, and impact.
Our Partners
From Swiss foundations and universities to international NGOs and top law firms, our partners make access to justice possible: locally and globally.
Get involved
Want to contribute your skills? Join us as a volunteer or apply for an open position. Together, we can make a real difference for people seeking protection.