More than 25,000 advised by FLAC last year

A total of 25,710 people either received legal advice from volunteer lawyers at legal advice clinics across Ireland or legal information from FLAC’s telephone information and referral line.

Family law (24 per cent of callers), housing (8.6 per cent) and employment (7.9 per cent) formed the main queries from 12,229 callers to FLAC’s telephone helpline.

In local legal advice clinics, 13,481 callers received legal advice, with family law (34 per cent of callers), employment law (14.7 per cent), wills & probate (9.5 per cent) and housing (7.4 per cent) predominating.

Other prominent areas of enquiry to both services were credit & debt law, consumer law, criminal law and other civil matters.

FLAC’s Public Interest Law Alliance (PILA) wing also provided assistance to social justice organisations, with 85 pro bono legal advice referrals where private practitioners provided legal advice.

Peter Ward SC, chairperson of FLAC (pictured), said: “Getting basic legal information and advice to people when and where they need it is the first step in ensuring access to justice.

“FLAC volunteers provide this in communities all around Ireland. We are extremely grateful for the time, professionalism and expertise that they contribute, week in, week out.”