SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS IMPACT REPORT 2021 / 2022
Community
Pro Bono Projects
In the past year, people at Arthur Cox exceeded 15,000 pro bono hours for the first time representing an increase of 42% in comparison to the previous financial year.
This increase includes our response to the humanitarian crises in Afghanistan and Ukraine, the launch of a legal helpline project with FLAC, an increase in the number of DEIS schools in the Arthur Cox Legal Education Project and the creation of a dedicated rotation for a Trainee together with our ongoing collaborations with NGO partners and charities. Details of these initiatives are set out below:
FLAC Information Line Project
The Free Legal Access Centres (FLAC) traditional face-to-face clinics were forced to close as a result of the pandemic and the organisation’s information line became completely overwhelmed, resulting in calls going unanswered. We offered our assistance and a new collaborative project was established in July 2021. The Arthur Cox pro bono practice and FLAC identified new ways to provide services at a time when the need for legal information and advice on how to navigate the legal system was greater than ever. Over 70 Arthur Cox lawyers answered in excess of 800 calls during the period FY2021/22, helping to ensure marginalised communities can continue to access legal information.
“Thank you to all the lawyers supporting this project, it makes an enormous difference to the number of people FLAC can help. The number of answered calls has increased considerably thanks to this collaboration. Arthur Cox volunteers provide invaluable support, helping people gain access to justice.”
ERIN BROGAN INFORMATION CO-ORDINATOR, FLAC
Secondment Placement Programme
Our Arthur Cox Pro Bono Secondment Programme is an excellent opportunity for trainees to enhance access to justice. Secondees are placed with our pro bono partners: The Community Law and Mediation Centre, Threshold, Mercy Law Resource Centre and the Immigrant Council of Ireland for up to six months on a rolling basis each year. Through this experience, secondees engage in hands on and rewarding work making a real difference by attending legal clinics, conducting public legal education sessions and undertaking case work.
“The social impact of this work is immense and it was a pleasure to contribute to improving the lives of clients whom I have directly supported.”
MICHAEL-JOHN GILLEN IMMIGRANT COUNCIL OF IRELAND ARTHUR COX SECONDEE 2021/2022
Response to Humanitarian Crises
Afghan Migrant Community
In collaboration with the Immigrant Council of Ireland, the firm represents unaccompanied refugee minors in applications for family reunification. In 2021, recognising the urgent needs of the Afghan migrant community, we began working with over 20 Afghan families, assisting with applications for discretionary visas, family reunification and Humanitarian Assistance Programme applications. To date over 100 Arthur Cox lawyers have assisted 23 Afghan clients and their families. An example of the impact of this pro bono work can be seen in the recent successful application for a discretionary visa for an Afghan client’s husband. Her husband, who was in danger in Afghanistan, will now be reunited with his wife, and their two young children. We also successfully assisted in our client’s application for naturalisation. She is now integrated into Irish life raising two young children here, with strong English language skills and pursuing a career.
“Thank you so much for the great news! I have received my Irish citizenship certificate today. I really appreciate all of your help”
“I appreciate all the hard work you have done for us.”
QUOTE FROM CLIENT
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Ukraine
In April 2022, Arthur Cox launched an Immigration Helpline in partnership with the UNHCR in response to the outbreak of war in Ukraine. This is staffed by our Ukrainian colleagues to respond to queries from newly arrived Ukrainian people in Ireland.
“Arthur Cox has played a vital role as we have expanded this collaboration, and the pro bono work undertaken by Arthur Cox lawyers has continued to make a critical difference in the lives of unaccompanied young people hoping to reunite with their families.”
BRIAN KILLORAN, CEO, THE IMMIGRANT COUNCIL OF IRELAND
NICK HENDERSON, CEO, IRISH REFUGEE COUNCIL
Amicus
We were pleased to receive a Champion of Justice Award for pro bono work undertaken in relation to the Amicus project in December 2021. Our firm is part of a global team that provides legal support to ongoing death penalty projects in the United States. The ongoing enthusiasm of our 150 Arthur Cox volunteers across the firm for this pro bono project is testament to the success of the initiative. Over the last three years Arthur Cox lawyers have completed approximately 4,200 pro bono hours in support of Amicus projects that help to provide better access to justice and to raise awareness of potential abuses of the rights of defendants who are currently on death row.
Arthur Cox Legal Education Project
To date over 250 young people attending DEIS schools have participated in our interactive five-week legal education project. This is supported by over 80 lawyers from the firm and enables access to justice through legal information and empowerment; a key goal of our pro bono practice. The project builds legal literacy, equipping young people with the skills they need to deal with disputes and exercise their rights.
Migrant Rights Centre Ireland (MRCI)
We are pleased to continue our collaboration with the MRCI to provide legal assistance and representation to vulnerable migrant workers. We assist with the successful assertion and vindication of migrants’ rights, in particular women and suspected victims of human trafficking, by representing MRCI’s clients as our own. Examples of this partnership include representing a young au pair and a number of migrant women who suffered severe exploitation in their places of work and required legal assistance. One such case was described as a ‘heinous abuse of rights’ by the Workplace Relations Commission.
“MRCI is happy to continue our third year of collaboration with Arthur Cox. The firm has provided legal assistance in cases where this assistance has been life altering. The work has helped to restore confidence and belief in people who exited situations of exploitation and trafficking. This pro bono partnership between Arthur Cox and MRCI has a real impact.”
EDEL MCGINLEY DIRECTOR, MRCI
Chancery Lane Project
We are pleased to support The Chancery Lane Project in the development of precedent clauses to respond to the climate crisis. This project brings together legal professionals from all over the world to collaborate and rewrite contracts and laws to support communities and businesses in helping the needle move in response to climate change. Through continuing collaboration, the Irish chapter is developing green clauses in the areas of corporate law, property and construction law, to create opportunities for the legal community and our clients to support climate action in an innovative and practical manner. (See more information on this work in the Environment section of this report)
Pro Bono Pledge
Arthur Cox is a founding signatory to Pro Bono Pledge Ireland, launched by the Minister for Justice in 2020 and coordinated by the Public Interest Alliance (PILA). Pro Bono Pledge Ireland is the first collaborative effort in Ireland to articulate the shared responsibility of lawyers to provide pro bono legal assistance. We work in coordination with signatories to Pro Bono Pledge Ireland to provide pro bono assistance in areas of unmet legal need, which includes helping low-income, disadvantaged or marginalised individuals or communities and the organisations that work with them.
Community Sponsorship Legal Advice Panel
We are a member of the Community Sponsorship Legal Advice Panel, launched by the Open Community in coordination with PILA. Community Sponsorship is an innovative model of refugee settlement and was recently expanded to support families from Ukraine. As a member of the legal advice panel, Arthur Cox supports this valuable initiative by responding to legal queries helping refugees rebuild their lives in safety and settle into their new communities.
MyMind
Arthur Cox partners with MyMind, a community-based mental health charity with a mission to empower people and communities to look after their mental health by providing high-quality, affordable and accessible services. Arthur Cox supports MyMind by providing our pro bono services to them in the areas of governance, contract, employment and data protection law.
“Thank you for all of your work and for helping us with all of MyMind’s legal questions. This is a very significant help for our services.”
KRISTEN FIKERT CEO, MYMIND
Lex Mundi Pro Bono Foundation
In January 2022, The Lex Mundi Pro Bono Foundation launched a global report on the formation and development of social enterprise titled, “Legal reform as a catalyst for social enterprise: an international social enterprise law & policy report.” The aim of the report is to create rapid, large-scale improvements in social, environmental, and economic outcomes for people and business in all countries around the world. Arthur Cox colleagues in Dublin and Belfast were delighted to provide contributions on the Irish jurisdiction. The full report is available to read here.
Charity Law and Governance
Through the Arthur Cox Charity Law Group we undertake pro bono work for small charities and community groups by advising on charity law and governance matters. One example is our pro bono work for Blossom Ireland, a charity which supports young people with intellectual disabilities and encourages them to be active participants in their communities.
“Thank you so much for this! We have a very small team in-house, so this type of support is incredibly helpful and genuinely impactful. These documents will be deeply helpful as we continue to grow and recruit more volunteers for the organisation.”
SHANE BRANNIGAN SENIOR FUNDRAISING AND MARKETING EXECUTIVE BLOSSOM IRELAND