As a student of the BCL Law with Social Justice programme at University College Dublin, the concept of utilising the law as an instrument of social change has been both a fervent personal interest, as well as a key focus of my studies to date. From early on in my course at university, FLAC has been highlighted by my professors as one of the leading movements of socio-legal activism, centring on the promotion of access to justice. Therefore, when the opportunity arose to apply to undertake a clinical legal placement here, I was delighted to submit an application. I could not have imagined how much I would be stretched, challenged, encouraged and inspired over the course of one short three-month placement.
Working in FLAC, and particularly as a part of PILA, I have had the immense privilege of getting directly involved in a variety of activities which have given me huge insight into the capacity of the law to function as an avenue for social change.
One of these assignments was working on the FLAC information and referral line service. Here, callers can avail of basic legal information and, where necessary, be directed towards other services such as law centres or other NGOs. I found answering calls on the information line a great experience in two senses. Firstly, it was a steep learning curve in that it exponentially multiplied my prior knowledge of the law; dealing one moment with a family law issue, the next with a question related to landlords and tenants, from there to employment law scenarios, neighbour disputes, wills and probate, personal rights under the Constitution and more. Taking these calls rapidly improved my legal research and communication skills, and collaborating with a fantastic team of highly skilled and experienced colleagues in a fast-paced environment hugely enhanced my learning.
Secondly, on a human level, attending to queries over the phone-line was an incredibly challenging but deeply rewarding experience. I had the privilege of encountering and listening to many people, some of whom were calling from very vulnerable positions, facing deeply complex circumstances. A large number of callers I assisted were simply unaware of their legal rights and obligations, demonstrating that the problem of limited access to justice extends beyond just the financial costs involved. For me, carrying out this work was a meaningful experience of personal growth. I was moved and encouraged to be in a position to inform people, particularly those most vulnerable, of the options open to them, both legally and socially, as well as the range of wider supports available in our society.
Another of my tasks was to assist in collating, writing and distributing the fortnightly PILA bulletin. In researching key legal updates from the Irish, European and International courts and human rights instruments, I greatly developed my researching and legal writing skills. Further, having the opportunity to read widely on a range of social justice imperatives was hugely educational, giving me the chance to advance my knowledge on prior interests, as well as increase my awareness of new and current issues.
Beyond FLAC headquarters, I had a number of opportunities to see the law in action by attending ongoing litigation in the High Court. PILA has been supporting Robbie Synnott, a representative of the Blind Legal Alliance, in his legal challenge to the current method of voting, which he claims infringes the right to a secret ballot of people suffering from blindness or visual impairment. Aside from the privilege of meeting Robbie, who is a brilliant, witty individual with one of the sharpest brains I have encountered, it was momentous to me as a young student to be present in a legal challenge centred on invoking personal rights under the Constitution, seeking to actively implement democracy.
I also had the chance to attend ongoing judicial review proceedings regarding securing subsidiary protection supports for applicants in the direct provision system. This exposure gave me a unique insight into the kind of work and challenges involved in undertaking human rights litigation, the deficiencies of direct provision, and a chance to expand my practical knowledge of asylum law.
One of the primary goals of PILA is to champion the use of pro bono in the Irish legal system. In this regard, they act as a connecting link, facilitating co-operation between NGOs, lawyers and law firms. During my clinical legal education placement, I enjoyed the opportunity to meet with some of our partnering law firms, as well as sitting in on consultations with NGOs, providing me with insight into both elements of this interaction.
I am profoundly grateful for having had this opportunity to undertake a clinical legal education placement with PILA. It has given me a first-hand insight into how important the need for change is in Ireland, amid deepening economic inequality and substantial barriers still precluding a significant portion of our population from accessing the legal justice system. This internship has afforded me the chance to work and learn alongside some of Ireland’s leading human rights lawyers, policy advisers, social justice activists and stewards of pro bono, which, along with being an incredible privilege, has taught me so much on both an academic and a personal level, and I am inspired to move forward in my studies with a more rounded perspective on the nature and depth of the imperative of social justice in this country.
I want to thank all of the staff here for the time and commitment they have invested into me as an intern, and for the vision for justice that they demonstrate so readily in their work as FLAC.