Justice for all

Family law, employment and debt top list of legal concerns dealt with by Clare’s Free Legal Advice Centre, writes Carol Byrne

Clare Citizen’s Information Legal Advice Centre in Ennis was the busiest Free Legal Advice Centre (FLAC) in Munster in 2011 according to the recently published FLAC annual report.
A total of 626 people attended the legal advice clinics in Ennis in 2011, more than any other centre in Munster. between the three centres operated around the county, 766 people received legal advice last year.
The information was released as part of the Clare Citizens Information Legal Advice Centre Annual Report that was launched by Marie Keane, president of the Clare Law Association and FLAC advisor at the Ennis Citizens Information Centre.
The report revealed that one in three callers to FLAC centres in Clare had a family law problem, while 14% of callers had an employment law query. The third most frequently discussed issue last year was debt related problems.
The legal rights group has stressed that the public’s need for information and assistance on legal matters continues to rise across the county in light of the figures that some 766 people attended its legal advice clinics in Clare during 2011.
Speaking at the launch, Marie Keane said most people only become aware of the law when they are in trouble but at that time, they need to be able to use it.
“For many, the law is confusing and intimidating. Alongside the dedicated management and staff of the Citizens Information Service in Clare, local FLAC volunteers provide a bridge between people and the law, so that they can understand their own situations better and can address the problems that they are facing, with dignity,” she said.
Paul Woulfe, manager with the Clare Citizen’s Information Service added “the centres provide an essential service for people who require legal advice to address a problem that they are facing but who do not have the resources to pay for a consultation with a private solicitor”.
FLAC noted a particular development around increasing debt problems, intersecting with issues in other areas of law such as family, employment and housing.
“FLAC has focused on reforming laws around personal debt because we have seen the terrible impact of over-indebtedness on people contacting us,” said Noeline Blackwell, FLAC director general.
“We have kept it simple: we need an independent, out-of-court debt settlement structure that will examine people’s personal debt in a holistic way and, where possible, aim to keep people in their homes,” she said.
But according to Mairead Doyle, local solicitor and co-ordinator with FLAC in Clare, access to legal information and advice is only one part of the solution.
“What is also needed is reform of the law to provide genuinely equal access to justice for all. Reform of Ireland’s antiquated debt laws, which FLAC has been calling for since 2003, is long overdue and was a major focus of FLAC’s efforts in 2011, including a valuable collaborative effort with a number of other NGOs and policy researchers that resulted in the publication of the ‘Nine Principles’ document. These principles, agreed by all participants in the grouping, represent a common approach towards addressing the personal debt crisis and demonstrate that concern about this issue is shared far beyond FLAC at this point,” Ms Doyle said.
The report found that family law is the most common area of law discussed at FLAC centres, accounting for 31% of queries in 2011. Employment law is the second most common issue, representing 16%, an increase of almost 30% on 2010.
The report notes the issue of debt law reform continues to be a major priority for FLAC as thousands of households all around Ireland struggle with mortgage arrears and other forms of personal debt without an adequate system in place for them to deal with their over-indebtedness in a holistic way.
The report also noted callers to FLAC centres and to the telephone information line are often in distress and under extreme pressure as they try to navigate reduced employment, unemployment and loss of income combined with an antiquated system of debt enforcement and bankruptcy and in the context of a very deep economic recession.
FLAC exists to promote equal access to justice for all. They provide a free service whereby people can sit down with a volunteer barrister or solicitor for a once-off, confidential discussion about their legal issue.
The volunteer legal advisor may be able to resolve the caller’s query there and then, they may advise them as to what the most appropriate next step is, or they may point them in the direction of a more appropriate service to meet their specific need.
For more information contact the Citizen’s Information Service.