Law Centre (Northern Ireland)

Fellow: Caitriona Boland

Law Centre (NI) is a not for profit agency (and registered charity), working to promote social justice through providing specialist legal services to advice giving organisations and disadvantaged individuals.

Continue Reading Law Centre (Northern Ireland)

Integrated legal, training, policy and information services

We are a referral organisation and deal with advice queries from a large number of member organisations across Northern Ireland. The Law Centre currently delivers legal services in community care, employment, human trafficking, social security and mental health. We also provide training, information, publications and policy development.

Law Centre (NI) operates an advice line service from its Belfast and Western area offices, casework on referral and representation at tribunals and courts. The casework is focused on strategic outcomes to achieve widest impact.

The Law Centre also enhances the capacity of local advice services by running training programmes, producing regular casework information briefings, a handbook of legal rights and other guides.

This work informs Law Centre policy work to ensure that recurring service issues are fed back to influence positive legal change.

Subject based practitioner discussions are also held periodically to ensure that case law, policy and practice developments are shared with advisers and others working in the field.

Legal Support Project

In 2012 Law Centre (NI) launched the Legal Support Project (LSP), an innovative service in Northern Ireland.

The LSP’s aim is to promote access to justice through free representation and it undertakes pro bono work concentrating on representation at social security appeals and industrial tribunals.

The work is targeted at those individuals in real need who are unable to access legal advice and representation.

The work of the project is delivered by volunteers who are trained and supported by LSP staff.

The project also seeks to raise awareness of the importance of engaging in pro bono work as a key part of legal practice.

Anti-Trafficking Young People Project

Law Centre (NI) is also funded by Comic Relief to support trafficked young people in Northern Ireland.

The project provides a single point of contact for young victims of trafficking in Northern Ireland aged between 11-25 years of age and the work is delivered by a Legal and Policy Officer.

This role also gives Law Centre (NI) the opportunity to contribute to policy responses and influence anti trafficking policy development in Northern Ireland and to provide specialist training to advisers and other agencies.

The Legal Education Foundation Justice First Fellowship Scheme

We are delighted to be a Host Organisation for The Legal Education Foundation Justice First Fellowship scheme in Northern Ireland and for the opportunity this presents to recruit an Apprentice Solicitor to join our team.

For further information, visit our website.