Guest Article by Aoife Kelly-Desmond, Managing Solicitor, Mercy Law Resource Centre and Áine Hennessy, Paralegal, Mercy Law Resource Centre: Mercy Law, A&L Goodbody and Focus Ireland launch housing clinic report

From left to right: Edward Gleeson, MLRC Board Chair, Aoife Kelly-Desmond, MLRC Managing Solicitor, Eithne Lynch, A&L Goodbody Head of Pro Bono, Mike Allen, Head of Advocacy at Focus Ireland and Pat Dennigan, CEO of Focus Ireland

Five years ago, Mercy Law Resource Centre, A&L Goodbody LLP and Focus Ireland came together with the help of PILA to launch an innovative pro-bono housing law clinic. The clinic connects A&L Goodbody solicitors with Focus Ireland customers, supported by Mercy Law. The pro bono clinic followed the legal clinic model operated by Mercy Law since 2010, providing a free and accessible way for those in housing crisis to receive professional legal advice and representation. This clinic was the first of its kind to be run by a commercial law firm in Ireland and has supported 503 clients (the majority of whom are family units) since it was set up. 

The success of this unique partnership was celebrated on 30 May 2023 with the launch of the second report on the impact of the clinic (available here). This report looked back at the operation of the clinic during and post the Covid-19 pandemic.  When the pandemic began in 2020, the project overcame the operational difficulties caused by the pandemic restrictions by pivoting rapidly to a remote service. While the level of homelessness in Ireland fell slightly during the pandemic, there remained a strong demand for legal support through this period. Where need did arise, it was particularly acute because many information and support services effectively shut down when face-to-face operations were suspended.  In keeping the clinic operating during this difficult period, it was able to continue serving the needs of some of the most vulnerable in society when they had nowhere else to turn. To date, 287 individuals and families have been supported through the remote legal clinic.

Mike Allen, Focus Ireland Head of Advocacy, Aoife Kelly-Desmond, MLCR Managing Solicitor, and Eithne Lynch, A&L Goodbody Head of Pro Bono during panel discussion

The experience of the clinic over this period mirrored that of Mercy Law, with remote operations casting the accessibility challenges faced by those seeking access to legal and advocacy services into sharp relief, but also presenting some benefits. The development of remote services improved accessibility for some cohorts and the increased reach to clients based outside Dublin particularly welcome. The clinic now operates on a hybrid basis, with initial contact made by phone and in-person appointments facilitated where beneficial. 

Common homelessness issues dealt with at the clinic include refusals by local authorities to provide emergency accommodation to those legally entitled to it; the provision of insecure emergency accommodation such as ‘one-night-only’ where families have to vacate and re-book their accommodation nightly; and prolonged stays with no clear pathway out of emergency accommodation. In relation to social housing, clients frequently require assistance overcoming barriers to accessing social housing such as illegal refusals of applications by local authorities; difficulties in having medical priority attached to applications; difficulty in being considered for transfers; and time lost on the social housing list.

Five years on from the establishment of the clinic, as homeless figures hit record levels and the housing crisis continues to deepen, the clinic remains relevant and necessary. In Mercy Law’s own work, referrals to our service have increased by over 60% year-on-year in 2023, with significant growth in the proportion of those cases concerning urgent homelessness issues. The additional capacity the clinic presents to meet this growing legal need is of immense value. This partnership is a prime example of what can be achieved with cross-sectoral collaboration, and we look forward to seeing what the next phase brings for the clinic.