Press release: A win for Ballymun Community Law Centre at the 2023 Irish Law Awards
Date: 12/06/2023
Pictured (L-R): Ivan Yates, the event host; Gary Lee, Hayley Keegan, Antoinette Doyle and Sandra Mpanyira from Ballymun Community Law Centre receiving the award from the chairperson of the judging panel, Richard Hammond S.C.
Balllymun Community Law Centre have won a national award for Excellence in Communications. The award was presented at the Dye & Durham Irish Law Awards 2023 last Friday evening, 9th June.
Claire McSweeney, Manager of Ballymun Community Law Centre said, “Our team are so honoured to have received this recognition. We aim to make the law accessible and ensure people are aware of their rights. Our communication is about our online presence to some extent, but mostly it involves being out in the community. We run weekly legal advice clinics, deliver talks and classes on different aspects of the law and work closely with many of the schools and community services in Ballymun. We see the law as a tool for social justice and want to share that passion for the law, especially with young people.”
Ballymun Community Law Centre provides free legal information and advice, legal representation and advocacy and legal educational courses. The Law Centre also promotes mediation as a conflict resolution tool and offers a free mediation service to people in the area. The Law Centre has seen an 80% increase in demand for their services when compared to pre-pandemic levels and in particular a rise in legal advice sought in relation to housing issues and employment issues. Ballymun Community Law Centre is part funded by Dublin City Council through the Social Regeneration Programme. See www.bclc.ie or phone (01) 8625805 for information.