Skip over main navigation
  • Log in
  • Basket: (0 items)
Irish Refugee Council
Tagline goes here
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
Get Help  Donate
  • Twitter
Menu
  • About Us
    • Who we are
      • Vision, values & purpose
      • How we work
      • Our History
    • Our Team
    • Governance
      • Charity regulations
      • Accounts & Finances
      • Board of Directors
    • Strategy & Impact
    • Our Partners
  • What We Do
    • Services
      • Drop-In Centre
      • Housing
      • Law Centre
      • Ukraine Response
      • Policy & Advocacy
    • Supports
      • A Place to Call Home
      • Employment
      • Education
      • Youth Work
      • Resettlement
      • Community Sponsorship
    • Get Help
      • FAQs
      • Information Notes
    • Networks
    • Support Groups
    • Outreach
      • Schools
      • Interpreter training
  • Get Involved
    • Donate
    • Partner with us
    • Work for us
  • Media Centre
    • Press Releases
    • News
    • Archive
  • Publications
  • Contact us
  • Admin
    • Log in
  • Basket: (0 items)
  1. Home
  2. Law Centre

Law Centre

We help people get protection from persecution 

At our Independent Law Centre, we meet the unmet legal needs of people seeking international protection in Ireland in a strategic manner, promoting and delivering early legal advice and representation to people from the early stages of the asylum process.

We also provide legal representation to people with refugee status and people granted subsidiary protection in their applications for family reunification.

How to get help

You can access our service through our Drop-in Centre. Please let the Drop-In Centre know if you need legal representation, and have not already availed of legal aid. They will take your relevant details and make a referral to the Law Centre.

We also take referrals from organisations in relation to individuals at various stages of the protection process where those cases may be of strategic benefit to people seeking protection in Ireland and where an individual is extremely vulnerable and has difficulties in otherwise accessing legal services. If an organisation wishes to make a referral, they can discuss this with us by contacting us via the details below. After speaking with us, we may ask referring organisations to complete a Law Centre Referral Form. 

Due to limited funding it is not possible for the Law Centre to meet all requests for legal representation. Our legal service is limited for capacity reasons and to ensure the quality of our services. 

Call 01 764 5854
Email Law Centre

Early Legal Advice
We provide early legal advice to people in the early stages of the international protection process, including advice on
  • the process before application
  • completing  the application questionnaire and personal statement  
  • attending interview at the International Protection Office and what to expect 
  • making detailed submissions after the interview 

To assist with our overwhelming demand and limited resources, we have partnered with A&L Goodbody Solicitors who have advised and represented over 50 people applying for international protection on a pro bono basis in the first interview stage of the asylum process. Read more out our partnership here. 

Family Reunification

We have also partnered with Kids in Need of Defence (KIND) and the Immigrant Council of Ireland to help children who have been granted refugee status in Ireland reunite with the families they left behind. A&L Goodbody, Arthur Cox, Microsoft, Linked In, Simmons and Simmons have also joined the project as pro bono partners and over the next 12 months, our project hopes to support 30 refugee children in their applications for family reunification.

Policy Work and Capacity Building

Arising out of our work with individual clients, we seek to identify issues affecting people seeking protection and those recognised as refugees in Ireland. We also support voluntary organisations and practitioners working on behalf of people seeking international protection in Ireland.

The Law Centre is supported by various sources including the European Commission under the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund 2014-2020 which is supported is by the Department of Justice and Equality, The Tomar Trust, A&L Goodbody, KIND and Wolfgang Digital.

Our Impact in 2022

  • Ongoing legal representation for 280 people in the international protection process. 
  • 67 clients represented in family reunification applications, and 55 in Afghan Humanitarian Admissions Programme.  
  • 48 clients received refugee status, 24 granted permission to remain, and 22 reunited with their families.  
  • 4 new High Court Judicial Review cases concerning family reunification and age assessments. 
  • 12 clients referred to A&L Goodbody solicitors for representation in their international protection applications. 
  • 71 young people supported in family reunification and citizenship applications through KIND project with support from Pro bono partner firms. 12 positive family reunification decisions, and 3 positive citizenship decisions received.  
  • 23 clients supported with reception conditions representation. 
  • 18 age-disputed minor clients represented in age assessments and international protection applications. 
  • Developed partnership with 4 firms (A&L Goodbody, Matheson, Philip Lee and Arthur Cox) and supported them to represent 90 clients in applications for their Afghan families to join them.  

Download the 2022 Impact Report

Donate to Support Our Law Centre

Read more about our work and partnerships:


       

International Protection Procedure Changes

International Protection Procedure Changes

Read more

Published: 28th November, 2022

Author: Wendy Muperi

Early Legal Advice

Early Legal Advice

We provide early legal advice to people in the asylum process in Ireland Read more

Published: 10th April, 2020

Updated: 2nd February, 2023

Author: Deleted User

A&L Goodbody Partnership

We are partners in advising and representing people through the international protection process Read more

Published: 9th April, 2020

Updated: 19th April, 2020

Author: Vikki Walshe

Family Reunification

Family Reunification

We represent people recognised as refugees to be reunited with their family in Ireland Read more

Published: 8th April, 2020

Updated: 25th September, 2020

Author: Vikki Walshe

Providing Protection

Providing Protection

Access to early legal advice for people seeking asylum Read more

Published: 14th April, 2014

Updated: 25th November, 2022

Author: Vikki Walshe

Back to top

Latest

  • Irish Refugee Council Wins Charity of the Year Award

    Irish Refugee Council Wins Charity of the Year Award

  • Autumn Newsletter

    Autumn Newsletter

  • New research sheds light on income inadequacy faced by children and families living in international protection accommodation

    New research sheds light on income inadequacy faced by children and families living in international protection accommodation

  • Press Release: Irish Refugee Council budget submission calls for Child Benefit or equivalent payment

    Press Release: Irish Refugee Council budget submission calls for Child Benefit or equivalent payment

Most read

  • Ukraine information note (updated 21 October)

    Ukraine information note (updated 21 October)

  • Vacancies

    Vacancies

  • Ukrainian language information helpline/Інформаційна лінія українською мовою

    Ukrainian language information helpline/Інформаційна лінія українською мовою

  • Donate to support refugees in Ireland

    Donate to support refugees in Ireland

  • Contact us

  • Housing/Житло, Important/важливо risk of homelessness

    Housing/Житло, Important/важливо risk of homelessness

  • Frequently Asked Questions On Asylum And Refugees

    Frequently Asked Questions On Asylum And Refugees

  • Why are refugees still coming from Ukraine, is Ireland taking more refugees from Ukraine than other countries?

  • Who we are

    Who we are

  • Support refugees from Ukraine

  • FAQs
  • Contact us
  • Sitemap
  • Accessibility
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy policy

Registered office
37 Killarney Street
Dublin 1
D01 NX74

Phone: 00 353 1 764 5062
Fax: 00 353 1 672 5927
Email: [email protected]

CHY Number: 10153
Registered Charity Number: 20025724
CRO Number: 188693

Sign up for our newsletter

Please enter your first name
Please enter your last name
Please enter your email address Please enter a valid email address (e.g. [email protected])
Manage Cookie Preferences