We established the Public Interest Law Alliance (PILA) in 2009 in response to interest among civil society groups and legal organisations to extend the reach of the law to those who are marginalised and disadvantaged. PILA connects, coordinates and supports these key stakeholders in using the law to maximum effect to achieve social change.
What is PILA?
PILA is a project of FLAC which engages the legal and social justice communities to use the law to advance positive social change.
What is Public Interest Law?
Public interest law goes to the very core of our society – protecting the rights, well-being, health, or finances of our people as a whole – but, most commonly, it is the law that advocates for those who are disadvantaged or marginalised. It involves using law reform, litigation and legal education as tools of change.
What does PILA do?
We approach public interest law work in its broadest sense; not specifically having to involve the courts, but also assisting vulnerable groups to participate in processes that affect them.
PILA is committed to developing the legal landscape through:
- Driving and growing a diverse Alliance of people and organisations who are committed to the development of public interest law in Ireland. PILA has nurtured a culture of pro bono (free) legal service to the point that several large law firms in Ireland have appointed dedicated Pro Bono Associates.
- Matching the legal needs of NGOs with pro bono legal expertise through our unique Pro Bono Referral Scheme.
- Partnering law firms with social justice organisations on specific high Impact Projects, which serve marginalised communities, bring new players from the legal community into the access to justice arena and train lawyers in new areas of expertise.
- Promoting and facilitating pro bono work in order to build the capacity of organisations to engage in public interest law work. Learn more about how we promote bro bono.
- Running Legal Education sessions for both the social justice and legal communities.
- Mobilising emerging lawyers through clinical legal education programmes with a focus on public interest law.
- Conducting research on barriers to public interest litigation in Ireland, raising awareness and working to remove these barriers.
- Hosting NGO Pitch Events to connect Pro Bono Pledge Ireland Signatories that have committed to doing pro bono work with NGOs and civil society organisations that have projects in need of legal expertise. This service is suitable for organisations who have a current or predicted long term need for legal assistance.