AADH

What AADH does

AADH (Alliance des Avocats pour les Droits de l'Homme) is a French non-profit association, registered under the law of 1901 and headquartered in Paris, founded in May 2009 by former French Ambassador for Human Rights François Zimeray and lawyer Noanne Tenneson. The organization operates as a clearing house that coordinates free (pro bono) legal services from a network of 26,000+ volunteer lawyers across 43-47 member law firms — including White & Case, Skadden, DLA Piper, Reed Smith, Dentons, Dechert, and DWF — to 260+ member NGOs, associations, and Social Economy Enterprises (ESS) in France and across Europe. AADH does not operate a proprietary technology platform; service delivery is human-coordinated via email intake ([email protected]), case-by-case lawyer matching, and on-site legal clinics.

AADH's revenue model rests on three streams: recurring membership dues from law firms and NGO members, institutional subsidies and grants (French Ministry of Interior MIMO programme, Ville de Paris, Barreau de Paris Solidarité, Fonds de Dotation du Barreau de Lyon, Danish Justice Foundation, EDF Foundation, and EU project funding via CLEAR-Rights and CO.A.ST), and individual donations that are 66% tax-deductible. All legal services to beneficiary NGOs are provided free of charge; the organization is governed democratically with member voting rights and a 16-member board including senior partners from major international law firms.

Its product surface spans a core clearing house service, a free legal training programme, and a portfolio of thematic programmes including Enfance Précarité Zéro (unaccompanied migrant minors), MIMO (asylum orientation), CLEAR-Rights (juvenile justice across five EU countries), CO.A.ST (guardianship for unaccompanied minors across Belgium, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Poland), Forces de Femmes (legal clinic at Hôpital Avicenne), Identités Plurielles (transgender children's rights), Des Enfants & Vous (corporate mentorship), and the 'Libres de Droit' podcast. AADH holds ECOSOC consultative status with the United Nations and is a member of the European Pro Bono Alliance, Child-Friendly Justice European Network, and the De la Convention Aux Actes collective.

Name

AADH

Legal name

Alliance des Avocats pour les Droits de l'Homme

Website

https://aadh.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

AADH is a Paris-based French non-profit association founded in 2009 that operates a pro bono legal clearing house, coordinating 26,000+ volunteer lawyers from 43-47 member law firms to deliver free legal services to 260+ NGOs, associations, and social-economy enterprises across France and Europe.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Pro Bono Legal Services

NAICS

Human Rights Organizations (813311), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Professional Organizations (81392)

SIC

Services-Legal Services (8111), Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Human Rights & Anti-Discrimination Organizations (BPAGAFAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Legal Aid & Client Advocacy Services (BPAGAEAM), Governance, Democracy & Rule of Law (BPAGABAI)

Keywords

• Pro bono legal services
• Human rights law
• NGO legal support
• Child protection law
• Legal aid coordination

Headquarters

HQ city

Paris

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Member subscriptions and fees: Cabinets d'avocats (law firms), NGOs, and individual members pay membership dues to support the Alliance. This is one of the two principal sources of financing.
2. Government and institutional subsidies/grants: The two principal sources of financing are subsidies (subventions) and member fees. Major institutional supporters include the French Ministry of the Interior (MIMO programme), the Ville de Paris, the Barreau de Paris Solidarité, the Fonds de Dotation du Barreau de Lyon, and the Danish Justice Foundation.
3. Individual donations: Individual donors contribute to the organization. Donations are 66% tax-deductible in France, making them an incentivized giving mechanism for individual supporters.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

AADH (Alliance des Avocats pour les Droits de l'Homme) coordinates the provision of free, confidential legal services to NGOs, associations, and Social Economy Enterprises (ESS) by acting as a clearing house between these organizations and a network of 26,000+ volunteer lawyers from 43 member law firms worldwide. The organization delivers pro bono legal consultations, civil party representation, and specialized training programmes focused on human rights, child protection, migration, and asylum law. All services to member organizations are provided free of charge, funded through member dues, institutional grants, and donations.

Product overview

AADH (Alliance des Avocats pour les Droits de l'Homme) is a non-profit organization functioning as a clearing house that coordinates free legal services for NGOs, associations, and Social Solidarity Enterprises. The organization connects partner organizations with a network of over 26,000 volunteer (pro bono) lawyers from prestigious international law firms. Its core offerings include legal consultations, training programs, and specialized programs such as Enfance Précarité Zéro (child protection for migrants), My Coming Of Age Story (EU-funded program for unaccompanied minors), CLEAR-Rights (juvenile justice), and Droits Devant Toi (youth awareness). Supplementary products include the 'Libres de Droit' podcast, publications, and newsletters. The organization does not operate as a technology platform but rather as a coordination service for legal pro bono work.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Libres de Droit: The Alliance's podcast format aimed at raising awareness about pro bono practice and its benefits, showcasing collaboration between associations and lawyers, highlighting gaps in human rights law, and exploring ways to evolve legal protections.
• CLEAR-Rights
• Enfance Précarité Zéro
• MIMO
• Identités plurielles
• Forces des Femmes
• Droits devant Toi: Redessine ton histoire
• Des Enfants & Vous

Products and services

• Legal Clearing House Services (Soutien juridique aux associations) A clearing house service that connects non-profit organizations (NGOs, associations, Social Economy Enterprises/ESS) with volunteer pro bono lawyers from prestigious international law firms. Provides free legal consultations, advice, and representation on matters including fiscal law, social law, penal law, association governance, asylum/migration law, and child protection. Restricted to member organizations; individual citizens cannot directly request services.
• Legal Training Programs (Formations) Free legal training sessions (delivered online via Eventbrite and in-person) for NGOs, associations, ESS members, companies, students, diplomats, consuls, and lawyers on topics including justice, equality, human rights, social law, tax law, associative governance, child international abduction, family law, prisoner's rights, child protection on social media, GDPR compliance, and civil party proceedings. More than 150 lawyers/jurists and around 100 social workers have been trained.
• Enfance Précarité Zéro (Child Protection Programme for Migrant Children) Child protection programme for migrant children and unaccompanied minors (MNA), providing administrative and legal assistance, training for professionals, and partnership with defense associations. Handles more than 80 legal requests per year and has trained 150+ lawyers/jurists and 100+ social workers.
• Forces de Femmes (Legal Clinic for Victims of Violence) Legal clinic at Hôpital Avicenne in Bobigny (Greater Paris) providing legal assistance twice monthly to people who have experienced violence. Operates in partnership with the association La Plage, which provides medical and psycho-social support, creating a comprehensive care ecosystem for victims of violence.
• MIMO Programme (Mieux Identifier pour Mieux Orienter les MNA) Programme for better identification and orientation of unaccompanied minors towards asylum procedures, providing legal assistance and training for professionals. Funded by the French Ministry of the Interior (MIMO programme).
• CLEAR-Rights Programme European programme developed with EU Justice Programme funding to guarantee free and equitable access to quality legal assistance for minors involved in criminal proceedings. Implemented in consortium with Terre des Hommes, Defence for Children, DEI Belgium, PILnet, and supported by the Lyon and Paris Bar endowment funds.

Quantifiable outcome

• 260+ NGO/association members served in 2024
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Barreau de Paris SolidaritécoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021The Paris Bar's solidarity fund supports the European CLEAR Rights programme to improve legal assistance for minors in conflict with the law and awareness programmes on minors' rights in detention centers. The Barreau de Paris also provides financial support of €1,500 to AADH.
• CO.A.ST - My Coming of Age Story Consortium (CIR Italy, ELIL, KIND, PIC Slovenia)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Co-funded by the European Commission, this project involves AADH working with the Italian Refugee Council (CIR), European Lawyers in Lesvos (ELIL), KIND, and the Legal Centre for Human Rights and Environment (PIC, Slovenia). The project aims to improve support for ad hoc administrators (guardians) of unaccompanied minors and young adults seeking asylum.
• European CLEAR-Rights Programme Partners (Terre des Hommes, Defence for Children, DEI Belgium, PILnet, Barreau de Lyon, Barreau de Paris)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020The EU-funded CLEAR-Rights programme (2014-2020, project code 101005878) was implemented by a consortium including AADH, Terre des Hommes (Netherlands), Defence for Children (Netherlands), DEI Belgium, PILnet, and supported by the Lyon and Paris Bar endowment funds. The programme developed tools, training, and jurisprudence databases to improve legal assistance for minors in juvenile justice systems across 5 European countries.
• KIND (Kids In Need of Defense)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019KIND is the leading US organization defending rights of unaccompanied migrant and refugee children. Founded in 2008 by Microsoft and UNHCR Special Envoy Angelina Jolie, KIND provides free legal representation to child refugees and migrants. Since 2019, KIND has partnered with AADH in Europe to strengthen legal protection of unaccompanied minors through training and coordinating pro bono lawyers. AADH is one of four European NGO partners in this network.
• Kind Europe (Foundation 'Prix Grand Rabbin Joseph Cohen')coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Kind Europe supports AADH within the 'Enfance Précarité Zéro' programme since 2019. Kind is a major supporter of child protection initiatives. AADH also received a prize from the Fondation Prix Grand Rabbin Joseph Cohen in 2019 and 2021 for its commitment and values in human rights.
• Danish Justice FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019The Danish Justice Foundation enabled AADH to send pro bono lawyers to Nepal to defend children victims of a French pedocriminal. This represents a targeted, project-based support for international child protection cases.
• Mairie de Paris (City of Paris)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017The Ville de Paris has supported AADH since 2017, providing municipal funding and institutional recognition. Paris also hosts AADH's headquarters and serves as a key institutional partner for programmes targeting the Paris region.
• Fonds de Dotation du Barreau de LyoncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014The Lyon Bar Association's endowment fund ('Fonds de Dotation') was created in February 2014 to fight all forms of injustice and defend human rights and the rule of law. It has supported AADH since 2020, providing financial backing for programmes. The Barreau de Lyon also contributes through the incubator for lawyer-created startups and the CJ2A mediation center.
• ECPAT FranceminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2009AADH collaborates with ECPAT France (organization fighting child sexual exploitation) on cases involving child prostitution and trafficking. The partnership has enabled ACPE to multiply its legal cases with AADH's support.
• European Pro Bono Alliance (PILnet)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAADH is a member of the European Pro Bono Alliance, an international network coordinated by PILnet that promotes pro bono legal work across Europe. This membership provides access to international best practices, cross-border cooperation, and a broader ecosystem of pro bono organizations.
• Child-Friendly Justice European Network (CFJ-EN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAADH is a member of the CFJ-EN alongside many other child rights organizations, working together to improve child-friendly justice standards across Europe.
• De la Convention Aux Actes (Collective)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAADH is a member of the 'De la Convention Aux Actes' collective of associations, which advocates for better implementation of children's rights in France and internationally, and raises public awareness on these critical issues.
• La Plage (Hospital Hôpital Avicenne, Bobigny)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAADH partners with the association La Plage, which operates at Hôpital Avicenne in Bobigny (Greater Paris). AADH runs twice-monthly legal clinics at the hospital, providing free consultations to victims of violence. La Plage provides medical and psycho-social support, creating a comprehensive care ecosystem.
• France ParrainagesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAADH partners with France Parrainages for the 'Des Enfants & Vous' programme, which pairs unaccompanied migrant minors with employee mentors from client companies of AADH member law firms. France Parrainages contributes its expertise in child sponsorship.
• EDF Foundation (Fondation Groupe EDF)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEDF Foundation supports the 'Droits Devant Toi: Redessine ton histoire' programme, which combines legal awareness and artistic expression for minors in youth justice facilities. With an annual endowment of €10 million, EDF Foundation focuses on equal opportunities, ecological and social transition, education, training, and culture.
• Ministry of the Interior (Ministère de l'Intérieur) — MIMO ProgrammecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe French Ministry of the Interior supports AADH through the MIMO programme ('Mieux Identifier pour Mieux Orienter les MNA vers l'asile'), which aims to improve identification and orientation of unaccompanied minors towards the asylum procedure.
• ART'EXPRIM and ARIANA MIX ARTminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner artistic organizations contributing to the 'Droits Devant Toi' programme by leading creative workshops (painting, collage, street art) in youth justice facilities, alternating with AADH's legal awareness sessions.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Pro Bono Institute: The Pro Bono Institute supports and convenes pro bono infrastructure for large law firms and corporate legal departments globally, including in-house pro bono programmes that overlap AADH's corporate volunteering and mentorship programmes (e.g., Des Enfants & Vous).
• French Red Cross (Croix-Rouge française): The French Red Cross, while broader in mission, coordinates volunteer services and partnerships with bar associations and government bodies — comparable in scale of mobilization of volunteers and reliance on institutional and individual funding in France.
• Terre des Hommes: Terre des Hommes is a major international child rights NGO that partnered with AADH on CLEAR-Rights; while broader in scope than legal aid alone, it overlaps heavily on child protection programmes and NGO partnership models.

Emerging players

• ECPAT France: ECPAT France is a child protection NGO partner of AADH specifically on sexual exploitation, trafficking, and child prostitution cases. Overlaps on legal representation work where AADH coordinates pro bono lawyers to multiply ECPAT-affiliated associations' casework.

Direct peers

• PILnet (Global Network for Public Interest Law): PILnet runs the European Pro Bono Alliance of which AADH is a member, operates a global clearing house for pro bono legal services targeting NGOs and social enterprises, and coordinates cross-border pro bono work — directly comparable in mission, model, and customer base.
• Cyrus R. Vance Center for International Justice: The Vance Center is a clearing house coordinated by the New York City Bar that mobilizes pro bono lawyers from leading firms for international human rights and rule-of-law work — directly comparable clearing house structure and law firm engagement model.
• Defence for Children International: Defence for Children International is an AADH consortium partner in the EU CLEAR-Rights programme and operates a similar child rights and juvenile justice model with comparable international footprint and NGO membership base.
• Avocats Sans Frontières (Lawyers Without Borders): Avocats Sans Frontières France and its international federation mobilize volunteer lawyers to provide free legal aid to vulnerable populations in developing countries — directly comparable pro bono model serving NGOs and victims of human rights violations.
• Kids In Need of Defense (KIND): KIND is AADH's strategic partner in Europe and operates the same pro bono model focused exclusively on unaccompanied refugee and migrant children — directly comparable specialist clearing house with founding partner pedigree (Angelina Jolie/Microsoft).

Regional players

• European Council for Refugees and Exiles (ECRE): ECRE is a Brussels-based pan-European network of NGOs working on refugee rights — directly comparable as a membership-based NGO coalition coordinating legal advocacy on migration, asylum, and human rights across European jurisdictions.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/allianceadh
• YouTubelinktr.ee/allianceaadh
• Facebookfacebook.com/AllianceDesAvocatsPourLesDroitsDeLHomme
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/alliance-des-avocats-pour-les-droits-de-lhomme
• Instagraminstagram.com/allianceavocats

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles19 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about AADH