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Expand civil legal aid to work grievances says CLM

Demand for free legal aid services in the area of employment law grew last year, according to Dublin-based Community Law & Mediation (CLM).

CLM, which publishes its 2018 annual report today, assisted more than 3,000 people through its free community-based legal, mediation and education services last year.

Family issues

As well as employment law cases, housing and family issues drove strong demand for the organisation’s services.

Chief executive Rose Wall (pictured) said: “Last year, we brought a series of successful public interest cases in relation to discrimination in the workplace, difficulties accessing social housing, refusal of emergency accommodation and problems accessing social welfare payments.

“In one instance, we assisted an individual who had represented herself before the Workplace Relations Commission, alleging discrimination by her employer and constructive dismissal. She found the complaints and adjudication process confusing and intimidating and her case was unsuccessful.

“We lodged an appeal to the Labour Court on her behalf, challenging the decision of the WRC, and a satisfactory settlement was reached.

“It is clear that the lack of legal aid for employment and equality cases and for social welfare appeals is a major barrier to enforcing citizens’ rights.

Rose Wall said that CLM supports the recent calls by partner organisations such as FLAC for a review of the legal aid scheme.

“We also call for expansion of the scheme to include employment and equality cases before the WRC and social welfare appeals before the Social Welfare Appeals Office,” she said.

Reform

In addition to its services, CLM campaigned for law reform, and for the safeguarding of rights already enshrined in law, in areas such as education, housing, disability rights, social protection, employment and equality.

CLM was established in 1975 as the first independent, community-based law centre in Ireland.

It supports over 3,000 people annually through its range of services, which include:

• free legal advice and representation,
• information and education,
• mediation and conflict coaching.

It operates two community law centres, CLM Northside (Dublin) and CLM Limerick, which assisted 635 people.

In 2018 CLM held more than 180 legal advice clinics and assisted 3,044 people.

It also collaborated with the Citizens Information Board, MABS, the Clondalkin Traveller Development Group and Novas Limerick to provide outreach legal advice clinics around the country.

As part of a new collaboration with the National Women’s Council of Ireland, it will this week begin providing monthly employment law advice clinics for women.

Disputes

CLM observed a significant increase in demand for mediation services involving parental/wider family issues, community/neighbour issues and workplace concerns. A total of 154 disputes proceeded to full mediation or conflict coaching last year.

CLM also published a comprehensive guide to social housing and an information leaflet on homelessness.

Education and training was given on areas such as enduring power of attorney, wills, the Fair Deal scheme, family law and how to apply for social housing.

CLM has a panel of 66 volunteer barristers, solicitors and mediators and delivered 1,360 hours of free mediation services in 2018.

CLM also maintains Casebase, the only publicly accessible database of reports of decisions of the social welfare appeals office which provides clarity around decisions. A total of 716 new legal advocacy reports were uploaded and representation cases opened on Casebase last year.