Pro Bono
We believe that universal access to justice and legal services is essential to the rule of law. Through our dedicated Pro Bono Group, we provide free, high‑quality legal assistance to a wide range of clients, from individual refugees and social enterprises to not‑for‑profit organisations and independent law centres.
Providing pro bono legal services to those who cannot otherwise afford it is central to our culture and reflects our commitment to the communities in which we live and work. We partner with NGOs, charities and independent law centres that deliver frontline legal services to some of the most vulnerable people in society. Our pro bono work focuses on critical issues including immigration, housing, and improving access to justice.
We provide the same standard of service and professional conduct on pro bono matters as we do for fee‑paying clients. All pro bono work is treated on a like‑for‑like basis with commercial matters.
Pictured, from left to right: Charlotte Ashmore, Prof. Raoul Shonemann, Margot Ravenscroft, Rosemarie Loftus, Carolann Minnock, Samantha Knight KC.
About our Pro Bono services
Video Transcription
Carolann Minnock
Hello, my name is Carolann Minnock and I head up the pro bono practice at Arthur Cox as Pro Bono Of Counsel. Through our pro bono work, we help marginalised and vulnerable individuals who are struggling to access justice. Our commitment to pro bono is reflected at every level of the firm. We treat pro bono hours on a like-for-like basis with commercial matters, and since we introduced a 25% pro bono hour target per lawyer per year, my colleagues have exceeded this target every year since. Most importantly, none of this would be possible without our NGO and law centre partners who witness firsthand areas of greatest legal need. These partnerships help ensure that our pro bono work delivers impact where it is needed most.
Charlotte Ashmore
I’m Charlotte Ashmore. I’m a pro bono associate here at Arthur Cox. Through our pro bono practice, we try to address unmet legal need in the community by working with NGO partners. As part of that, we support the FLAC information line to help members of the public address everyday legal problems. Another partner we work with is the Mercy Law Resource Centre. We take referrals from Mercy Law of people who are at risk of homelessness and trying to navigate the social housing framework.
Richard King
My name is Richard King and I manage Crosscare’s Migrant Project. Crosscare’s mission is really simple. Our mission is to serve those most in need and to help those who are most vulnerable and marginalised. The partnership with Arthur Cox has really helped us do that, and we value it very highly because, when it comes down to the most difficult cases, we are able to make a real difference.
Carolann Minnock
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Who do we support?
Helping reunite refugee families
Referred to us by the Irish Refugee Council, our client sought assistance to reunite with her husband, from whom she had been separated for several years while living in Ireland with their two young daughters.
Clíodhna McHugh, Fiona McGinn and Rob Cain guided the family through the reunification process and made urgent representations to secure a visa for her husband, whose safety was at risk while living in South Africa. Their efforts were successful, enabling him to travel to Ireland and reunite with his family.
The family said:
“This journey was not easy for us. It was stressful, emotional and, at times, uncertain. Your professionalism, patience and clear communication gave us hope and confidence at every stage. Being together again is a very important moment in our lives, and we will always appreciate your contribution to making this possible.“
Housing rights training with Threshold
We work with housing charities Focus Ireland and Threshold to support access to housing rights information and legal knowledge for those assisting people experiencing housing difficulties.
Through collaborative training sessions, frontline staff can deepen their understanding of tenancy law, share practical experience and build confidence in addressing housing-related legal issues. Bringing together legal and advocacy expertise helps support referrals and improve access to information for people navigating housing insecurity.
“The training session was a real opportunity, in the midst of a homelessness crisis, for practitioners to learn from one another and to be informed by shared frontline experience. Events like this allow organisations to complement each other’s work, collaborate more effectively and ensure people are referred to the right supports at the right time.”
John Mark McCafferty, CEO of Threshold
Advancing transgender rights with TENI
Improving access to justice for those who face the greatest barriers is a key focus of our pro bono work. Through our partnership with Transgender Equality Network Ireland (TENI), Arthur Cox supports transgender and non-binary people in Ireland, who continue to face significant discrimination.
To date, we have contributed more than 1,000 pro bono hours, providing legal support on issues including GDPR, transgender inclusion in sport, and laws affecting transgender people in schools and workplaces.
Commenting on the impact of our support, TENI said:
“The support received from Arthur Cox has strengthened our work and ensured that the transgender people who come to us receive clear, accurate guidance when they need it most.”
Partnerships and programmes
Public Interest Law Alliance (PILA)
The Public Interest Law Alliance, a project of FLAC, facilitates pro bono representation for those most in need and promotes the use of law as a tool for social change. As a PILA Sustaining Partner, we provide core funding and expert legal support that strengthens PILA’s work in connecting NGOs and community groups with essential legal assistance.
Pro Bono Pledge Ireland
We are a founding signatory of Pro Bono Pledge Ireland, a national initiative launched by the Minister for Justice in 2020 and coordinated by PILA. The Pledge establishes a shared professional responsibility to improve access to justice, defines a common understanding of pro bono legal work, and sets a target of 20 pro bono hours per lawyer per year, supported by annual anonymised reporting.
Kids in Need of Defense (KIND)
We partner with Kids in Need of Defense to provide vital legal assistance to unaccompanied refugee and migrant children in Ireland. Delivered in partnership with the Immigrant Council of Ireland, the Irish Refugee Council and international NGO KIND, this project aims to close the gap in legal services available to unaccompanied minors. We assist young people in reuniting with family, securing citizenship and navigating complex immigration processes.
Mercy Law Resource Centre
Mercy Law Resource Centre provides free legal advice and representation to individuals who are homeless or at risk of homelessness and advocates for systemic reform in housing and related supports. Our lawyers provide ongoing assistance on a range of housing-related issues, helping clients navigate complex legal systems and secure vital services.
Arthur Cox Legal Education Project
The Arthur Cox Legal Education Project promotes early access to justice by delivering legal education to students in DEIS schools. Over five one-hour modules, students learn about their rights and responsibilities, how to identify when they may need support, and how to access appropriate advice. More than 90 Arthur Cox lawyers, including partners, associates and trainees, have partnered with and mentored over 500 young people across Dublin.
Amicus
Amicus supports individuals facing the death penalty in the United States and advocates for fair trial rights. Arthur Cox lawyers work with the Florida Centre for Capital Representation (FCCR) to review court records in pre-trial and post-conviction death penalty cases. Our research supports challenges to unlawful convictions and sentences and helps ensure fair legal processes for those facing capital punishment.
Transgender Equality Network Ireland: TENI
TENI is Ireland’s national transgender equality organisation, working to advance the rights and inclusion of transgender and non-binary people through advocacy, education and support services. We support TENI’s mission by providing pro bono legal assistance on issues affecting the transgender community. Our lawyers advise on a range of matters, including equality and human rights issues, policy development and governance.
Impact measurement
Our pro bono practice is designed to advance access to justice through agile, impactful projects that deliver meaningful, measurable change. This work aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goal 16, promoting peaceful and inclusive societies and access to justice for all.
In 2025, we delivered more than 19,900 pro bono hours and achieved a 76% participation rate, our highest to date. Looking ahead, we remain committed to deepening our impact, strengthening partnerships, and ensuring that our initiatives remain focused, effective and aligned with our long-term priorities.
Looking ahead
We are committed to deepening our impact, strengthening partnerships, and ensuring that our initiatives remain focused, effective and aligned with our long-term priorities and objectives:
- Delivering responsive and impactful projects with NGO partners addressing the most pressing legal needs
- Maintaining strong fee earner participation in pro bono work
- Maintaining a target of 25 pro bono hours per fee earner per year
- Supporting PILA and fellow Pro Bono Pledge signatories in promoting the growth of pro bono in Ireland
