PILA's hosts workshop on Pro Bono Referral Scheme

On Wednesday 8 September,  PILA  hosted an NGO workshop on our Pro Bono Referral Scheme. The workshop featured presentations from Danielle Curtis, PILA Legal Officer, Aoife Kelly-Desmond, Managing Solicitor, Mercy Law Resource Centre and, Eithne Lynch, Pro Bono Associate, A&L Goodbody. 

The aim of the Referral Scheme is to connect social justice organisations with free expertise provided by a pro bono barrister or solicitor.

NGO partners can obtain free legal assistance where they do not have the resources or in-house expertise, in the following ways:

• Legal Advice: on organisation issues or in line with policy and campaign work
• Law Reform Working Groups: where lawyers and NGO’s come together to work to implement social change
• Strategic Litigation Support: including pre-litigation advices and casework on strategic cases that may benefit a wider group
• Legal Education Sessions: to better equip NGO staff and networks in navigating the law
• Impact Projects: where a law firm and NGO forge an ongoing partnership to fill an unmet legal need

The workshop provided:

• An Introduction to the Pro Bono Referral Scheme,
• An overview of the application process and how an NGO can avail of the scheme,
• An overview of the Scheme from an NGO and law firm perspective. 

You can view the presentation here and watch the workshop here. If you have any questions on the workshop or the Pro Bono Referral Scheme, please reach out to Danielle Curtis at PILA.