FLAC Background The Free Legal Aid Centres were established in 1969 by a number of law students. They provides some basic free legal services. By the early 1970s FLAC had taken on over 2,500d files in the area of family, crime, landlord and tenant law. This grew to 8000 by the mid-1970s. By that stage there was 60 lawyers, students at Aid Centres with 50 […]
Citizens Information Board The Citizens Information Board was formerly known as Comhairle. The Board’s functions are to support the provision of or to directly provide independent information, advice and advocacy service to ensure that individuals have access to accurate, comprehensive and clear information relating to social services that are relevant to their sector. to assist and support persons, in particular those with disabilities, in identifying their […]
Legal Aid Board A basic civil legal aid scheme was established as an administrative scheme after Airey v Ireland judgments in the European Court of Human Rights in 1979. The civil legal aid scheme was put on a statutory footing by the Civil Legal Aid Act 1995. The Act established the Legal Aid Board. The Board consists of a Chairman and 12 ordinary members appointed […]
Legal Panels The Board may establish panels of solicitors and barristers and others who are willing to provide legal aid and advice. Solicitors and barristers may be appointed to the panel subject to terms and conditions described by the Board with the consent of the Minister for Finance. A solicitor may be excluded if his conduct is such as to render him unsuitable. The Board […]
Board Services The Legal Aid Board may provide advice and aid through Law Centres established under the legislation. A person shall be entitled to apply for legal aid or advice through a Law Centre irrespective of his place of residence. The Legal Aid Board provides services in relation to routinely available information. Information may be obtained through a Law Centre, through leaflets or online websites. […]
Criminal Legal Aid The Criminal Justice Legal Aid Act 1962 provides for grant of free legal aid in the case of more serious charges and offences where the applicant satisfies the court that he or she has insufficient means to defend himself. The accused has a right to be informed of his right to legal aid in a more serious case. Legal aid grants entitlement […]
Legal Aid & Constitution Ireland does not have an advanced system of free legal aid. The system of civil legal aid is patchy and much less extensive than that which exists in other jurisdictions. Criminal legal aid is available as a Constitutional right in many criminal law proceedings. This applies where there is a risk of imprisonment. It covers trials on indictment on the Circuit […]
Background Many claims for personal injury are taken on a contingency basis. This is sometimes described as no foal no fee. This means that legal fees are charged only if the case is successful. Strictly speaking an agreement of this nature is void at law as against public policy which discourages the promotion of litigation and the taking of a stake in another’s litigation. In […]