Free Legal Advice Centres is a non-profithuman rights organisation that provide pro bono publico assistance via a network of legal advice clinics throughout the Republic of Ireland, as well as operating a free telephone information and referral line and engaging in advocacy, campaigning and policy analysis work. FLAC has been involved in a number of notable cases including Airey v. Ireland.
History
FLAC was created in April 1969, a group of law students who used their legal knowledge to provide advice and information to those who could not afford the fees involved. They promoted access to legal redress for all, regardless of economic status. It was through this work that they hoped to advance their ultimate objective: influence the government into instituting a comprehensive plan providing civil legal aid to those in need. FLAC's operations expanded rapidly. By 1972, 2,437 cases had been handled. By 1974, this had risen to over 8,000. In some ways, these efforts distracted from the greater campaign for state-funded civil legal aid. Yet, ultimately it was a threat by FLAC to withdraw these services which forced the government to take action on civil legal aid. Responding to FLAC's campaign, the government formed the Pringle Committee in 1974 to address the issue of civil legal aid in Ireland. Meanwhile, FLAC continued its own efforts, achieving one of its early ambitions in 1975 by opening the first community law centre in Ireland. In 1977, the Pringle Committee published its Report calling for the provision of state-funded legal aid centres and for individuals to be educated about their rights, echoing the demands made by FLAC. However, the government remained slow to implement the Pringle Report. FLAC would emerge as a central player in a case which finally induced the government to take action: the landmark ECHR case, Airey v. Ireland, which challenged the prohibitive costs of a legal separation as breaching an individual's access to justice. Supported by FLAC and represented by Mary Robinson, Josie Airey won her case against the state and assurances of an adequate scheme of legal aid were secured from the government. Since the 'Airey' case, FLAC has been involved in some of the most significant legal developments in Ireland's recent history. Among them was FLAC's representation of 1800 married women seeking arrears of social welfare which eventually resulted in the Irish government paying £265 million in compensation to 70,000 women. In 2009 FLAC established the Public Interest Law Alliance, in order to develop public interest law in Ireland - and PILA continues to effectively engage civil society and the legal community in advancing social change. 2015 saw the introduction of the Gender Recognition Act in Ireland following twenty years of campaigning and litigation by transgender womanLydia Foy, supported by FLAC. In 2019, the fiftieth year of FLAC, Irish PresidentMichael D. Higgins opened FLAC's new headquarters at 85/86 Upper Dorset Street.
