Trinity FLAC: A Year in Review

by Zoya Kherani, JF Law and Business

Trinity College Dublin's Free Legal Advice Centre (FLAC) has been an active hub of legal activity over the past academic year. We provide free legal information, advice, and representation to people who cannot afford to pay for legal services FLAC's mission is to promote and protect human rights, equal access to justice, and the rule of law FLAC's clinic work is a crucial part of its mission to promote and protect human rights and equal access to justice. Through its clinics, FLAC is able to provide vital legal services to people in need, while also contributing to the broader goal of promoting greater awareness and understanding of legal issues in society. The organisation's work is a testament to the power of volunteerism and the importance of collective action in promoting social justice and human rights

FLAC’s consistent endorsement of social justice and legal knowledge can be portrayed by the myriad of events and initiatives that address pressing social issues. We started off the year with a panel discussion on housing rights, featuring Professor Gerry Whyte, Emily Murtagh from the Irish Traveller Movement, and Paul Dornan from Mercy Law The discussion focused on the challenges facing people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless and highlighted the need for effective policy solutions to tackle the housing crisis This was followed by a panel discussion on transgender rights and history in Ireland. The speakers included Lilith FerreyraCarroll, Clare Tebbutt, and Conor Tormey, and the event was held in collaboration with QSoc. This dis- cussion highlighted the struggles and achievements of the transgender community in Ireland, and the need for greater awareness and support for transgender rights

FLAC also collaborated with Trinity Access Programme to host a “Know Your Rights” workshop with City Quay National School This event aimed to educate young people about their legal rights and provide them with practical tools to navigate the legal system. The workshop was a success, and the students were also treated to a campus tour and an administrative law problem question. In addition to these events, FLAC hosted several talks and workshops on a range of legal topics These included a talk on state responses to child protection concerns with Professor Conor O'Mahony, a workshop on LGBTQI+ rights with Professor Mark Bell and James Rooney BL, and a workshop on the Freedom of Information Acts with Sharon Dillon-Lyon BL.

FLAC's commitment to promoting social justice and advocacy was evident in their announcement of an article competition on 'Minority Rights and Marginalised Interests in the International Context' in collaboration with The Eagle and 'Social Innovation for Social Change' competition held in collaboration with Trinity Entrepreneurial Society. These competitions encouraged students to come up with innovative solutions to address social issues and promote positive change in society. Finally, a FLAC Committee favourite was the presentation of the Advocacy Award to Noeline Blackwell, who is the

CEO of the Dublin Rape Crisis Center, the former Director General of Ireland’s Free Legal Advice Center and has been an active leader in advancing social justice in Ireland.This was an important event for the society as FLAC loves to endorse and appreciate people that have been anchors of social justice.

At the end of the day, none of this would be possible without the hard work and dedication of the FLAC committee; Georgia Dillon, Lucy Shuyao Lu, Hugh Gallagher, Isabelle Healy , Sorcha Byrne, Tara Brady, Leanne Healy, Jenny Salmon, Katie Loughney, Zoya

Kherani, Fiona Stenson, Deirbhile Clenaghan. Sophie Moutray, Pauline Greiner and Anna Clarke. The panel discussions, research projects, workshops, and moot competitions that were organised have all contributed to promoting legal awareness and access to justice. It is only through your tireless efforts and dedication that the Trinity College Dublin Free Legal Advice Centre has been able to make such a positive impact on the community. Their hard work has not gone unnoticed