The Bar of Ireland provides pro-bono advocacy training to charities

Trócaire, Immigrant Council of Ireland, Irish Refugee Council, MS Ireland, Family Carers Ireland, Citizens information and  Samaritans were amongst 23 charities, NGOs and civic society groups that attended an advocacy training workshop for charities ‘Speaking for Ourselves’ hosted by the Voluntary Assistance Scheme of The Bar of Ireland on Thursday 24th November 2016. 

(Paul McGarry SC – Chairman Council of The Bar of Ireland)

This workshop was established to assist charities in developing their advocacy skills and enhance their capacity to communicate as an organisation.

Addressing the workshop were barristers Michael Cush SC, Turlough O’Donnell SC, Louise Beirne BL, Mary Rose Gearty SC, Bairbre O’Neill BL, Michael Lynn SC, Aoife Carroll BL. Michelle Grant Committee Secretariat- EU and Intl Relations, Houses of the Oireachtas Service and Thomas Ryan, Environment and Infrastructure Executive, Irish Farmers’ Association also presented on Effective engagement with public bodies.

(Libby Charlton BL- VAS Co-Ordinator & Paul McGarry SC – Chairman Council of The Bar of Ireland alongside representatives from Citizens Information)

Providing guidance on law reform and the legislative process is just one aspect of the pro-bono assistance provided to groups from the voluntary sector by barristers under The Bar of Ireland’s Voluntary Assistance Scheme (VAS). It also provides assistance to charities on a wide range of legal areas including debt and housing, landlord and tenant issues, social welfare appeals, and employment and equality law.

For more information on The Bar of Ireland’s Voluntary Assistance Scheme (VAS) see lawlibrary.ie/legal-services/pro-bono-services/

Requests for support through VAS must be made through a voluntary organisation, applications cannot be accepted from individuals. Throughout the process, the organisation remains involved as The Bar of Ireland’s point of contact for that individual.