A Founders Journey: From Migrant to Mission
When my friend was deported, I knew something had to change. My name is Steve Okolo and I am the Founder & CEO of LawNeeds. I’m originally from Nigeria but have lived in the UK for the past 12 years. My journey here began at Sheffield International College, before completing my LLB degree at Nottingham Trent University. I later earned a Master’s degree in Human Rights Law from the University of Nottingham, followed by the Bar Professional Training Course (now known as the Bar Practice Course) at the University of Law, Birmingham. I recently completed a second Master’s degree in Entertainment and Media Law at the University of Westminster. I’m also a CPD accredited paralegal and have worked as an immigration paralegal at Woodcock Law.
The Problem We Lived
Despite my legal background, as a migrant navigating life in the UK, I still encountered major gaps in the legal system which are unfortunately gaps that most people fall straight into.
When I needed immigration help, I had to sift through countless Google search results with no real insight into who was trustworthy or qualified. I had to rely on sheer instinct and luck. Fortunately, I have legal training and this helped me in avoiding mistakes and drastic pitfalls. But many people don’t have that luxury as was the case for a friend of mine who was not so lucky.
They trusted someone who posed as an immigration lawyer, but was not regulated by any recognised legal authority. Over months, this person kept collecting money, offering vague advice, and giving false hope. By the time the truth surfaced, it was too late and the damage was done. Key deadlines had been missed, immigration rules had been violated, and eventually, my friend was detained and deported. No goodbye. No justice. It was heartbreaking and infuriating.
The experience deeply impacted me, not just because it was personal, but because it was preventable. I realised then that the problem was not just legal, but structural, caused by lack of transparency, trust, and a lack of tools for people to make informed decisions when they are most vulnerable.
Why LawNeeds Was Born
In conversations with migrants, students, and young professionals, especially within the ages of 18-39, I kept hearing the following issues:
- Legal services are expensive and difficult to access
- It is difficult to tell who is truly qualified
- Consultations feel rigid and overpriced
- Language barriers and system complexity are often obstacles hindering those seeking actual help, thus worsening the situation
Studies also show that over 3 million people in the UK face legal issues each year without any help, especially migrants (Source: Legal Services Board). This means that if you are a migrant, a student, or a young professional trying to to understand your rights, you are often on your own.
Our Mission & Our Solution
LawNeeds is a mobile-first legal tech platform designed for people navigating complex legal situations. Our mission is to democratise legal access through:
- AI-generated, first-instance legal guidance, vetted by a lawyer-in-the-loop
- Multilingual input support (text, voice, image, document uploads)
- Affordable and flexible in-app consultations with regulated lawyers and immigration advisers
- A transparent, personalised, and secure experience from start to finish
We built LawNeeds with migrants and underserved communities in mind, as these individuals are often overlooked and most likely to fall through the cracks.
Built By Migrants For Migrants
What makes LawNeeds even more unique is the makeup of our team. 98% of us are migrants who have lived through and experienced navigating the UK immigration system in one way or another. From student status, to work visas and settlement applications, we have navigated the same complex, and stressful journeys that our users face. This is not just a problem we studied, but it is one we have also lived. It is that collective experience that fuels our commitment to making the UK legal system more transparent, and more accessible for everyone.
More Than Immigration
While LawNeeds was born from personal experience in immigration law, our mission goes beyond just one area of law. Many of the same communities we aim to serve also face challenges in employment disputes, family law matters, and road traffic offences. These are equally important areas that deeply affect day-to-day life and wellbeing. While our initial focus is on immigration, LawNeeds aim is to expand to include these other key areas, delivering the same AI-powered, lawyer-backed support across multiple domains of law.
We are building a platform that understands the real life legal struggles people face, and meets users where they are, across the full spectrum of common legal needs.
As the world becomes increasingly digital, legal services must evolve. Access to law and competent legal service providers should not be a privilege for the few, but a right for everyone. We believe legal empowerment is a pathway to stability, confidence, and justice..
How can I help you today?