DLA Piper’s ‘Know Your Rights’ programme announces a partnership with Deloitte to provide paid employment for refugees and asylum seekers in Ireland

• DLA Piper, through the Irish Refugee Council, delivers a legal education training programme that empowers asylum seekers and refugees to better advocate for themselves and know their rights in Ireland
• Now participants who take part in the free seven-week programme have an opportunity to avail of one of three paid internship positions with Deloitte post-programme

17 February 2022 – DLA Piper’s ‘Know Your Rights’ programme, supported by the Irish Refugee Council, has announced a partnership with Deloitte to provide three paid, six-month internship opportunities for refugees and asylum seekers who have participated in the programme in Ireland. Successful candidates will support teams in Deloitte’s office.

The ‘Know Your Rights’ programme, which is in its second year in Ireland, is a seven-week legal education training programme, that empowers asylum seekers and refugees to better advocate for themselves and know their rights. It is a programme for refugees, led by refugees, with DLA Piper’s pro bono legal officer, Awmaima Amrayaf, driving and coordinating the programme. Working with the Irish Refugee Council, Awmaima and the DLA Piper in Ireland team have tailored the course to meet the issues faced by asylum seekers and refugees in Ireland. 

Commenting on the announcement, Maura Dineen, Partner, DLA Piper said: “We are delighted to partner with Deloitte to offer asylum seekers and refugees paid employment opportunities in Ireland. Through our ‘Know Your Rights’ programme, we seek to empower asylum seekers and refugees by increasing their core knowledge on important legal issues and their rights, covering the legal system, employment, housing and consumer rights and now we will also be able to provide employment opportunities for some, post-programme. We have worked hard with the Irish Refugee Council to tailor the programme to address particular issues relevant to Ireland, and we look forward to continuing to deliver the programme to participants in the future.” 

Commenting on the programme, Róisín Fitzpatrick, Partner, Deloitte said: “We are very pleased to support the DLA Piper ‘Know Your Rights’ programme by creating a pathway into our internship programme in Deloitte for asylum and international protection seekers in Ireland. Our internship builds on the programme and offers participants an opportunity to develop a technical skillset, in addition to professional skills, in our teams and workplace. We hope it provides a step and a network to entering Ireland’s labour market. We have really enjoyed collaborating with the Irish Refugee Council, Business in the Community and DLA Piper to make an impact that matters.” 

Commenting on the announcement, Nick Henderson, CEO, Irish Refugee Council said: “Know Your Rights is a powerful and much needed programme which empowers people seeking protection in Ireland. The opportunity of a paid internship with Deloitte at the end of the programme gives people a chance to get great experience in a professional environment. We are very grateful for the ongoing support from DLA Piper and Deloitte and are looking forward to rolling out the third phase of the programme later in 2022.” 

Know Your Rights is a seven-week legal education programme, delivered one day a week, for up to 50 refugees. This programme which is free of charge for participants, aims to support and empower people who are seeking protection and to build new lives in Ireland. The next seven-week ‘Know Your Rights’ programme will be rolled out in 2022. 

So far, more than 90 refugees, asylum seekers and migrants have participated in the ‘Know Your Rights’ programme in Ireland. To date, there have been 21 editions of KYR in 11 countries including Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Thailand, United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand in partnership with 15 NGO partners. You can find out more about DLA Piper’s Know Your Rights programme from our Brochure which can be accessed here under ‘Find out More’. 

ENDS

For further information contact:

Sarah Traynor, Edelman, [email protected], 085 843 9355