Trinity FLAC

Meet FLAC’s 2025/26 Committee🩵

🩵Our Free Legal Advice Clinics Are Back!🩵 Our Free Legal Advice Clinics are now running every Tuesday during the academic term, offering confidential, one-on-one appointments with trained legal volunteers. All appointments are completely free of charge, and booking is essential as spaces are limited. Take the first step in understanding your rights and accessing legal support. ⚖️ 🩵Tá ár gClinicí Comhairle Dlí Saor in Aisce ar ais!🩵 Tá ár gClinicí Comhairle Dlí Saor in Aisce ar siúl gach Máirt le linn an téarma acadúla anois, ag tairiscint coinní rúnda, duine ar dhuine le hoibrithe deonacha dlí oilte. Tá gach coinní go hiomlán saor in aisce, agus tá áirithint riachtanach mar go bhfuil spásanna teoranta. Glac an chéad chéim chun do chearta a thuiscint agus rochtain a fháil ar thacaíocht dhlíthiúil. ⚖️

🩵Welcome (back) to FLAC🩵 📣What is FLAC Trinity? We’re Trinity’s branch of Free Legal Advice Centers. A student-run society committed to promoting access to justice, legal education and awareness. ⚖️💬 Whether you’re studying law or not, everyone is welcome to get involved! ✨ Be sure to follow along as we’ve got an exciting year ahead!✨ 🩵Fáilte (ar ais) chuig CCDSIA🩵 📣Cad é CCDSIA na Trínóide? Is brainse de na hIonaid Chomhairle Dlí Saor in Aisce de chuid Trinity muid. Cumann faoi stiúir mac léinn atá tiomanta do rochtain ar cheartas, oideachas dlí agus feasacht a chur chun cinn. ⚖️💬 Más rud é go bhfuil tú ag déanamh staidéir ar an dlí nó nach bhfuil, tá fáilte roimh chách páirt a ghlacadh! ✨ Bí cinnte go leanfaidh tú orainn mar tá bliain spreagúil romhainn!✨

Our 2026/27 Candidates for Trinity FLAC. You have to be a member to vote for your chosen one at our AGM today 4PM in room 1.1 law school. There is also a link to join the AGM online to vote. Membership will be checked! Best of luck to all our candidates🩵 Ár n-iarrthóirí do Trinity FLAC 2026/27. Caithfidh tú a bheith i do bhall chun vóta a chaitheamh ar an iarrthóir is rogha leat ag ár gCruinniú Cinn Bhliana inniu ag 4 i.n. i seomra 1.1 Scoil an Dlí. Tá nasc ar fáil freisin chun páirt a ghlacadh sa chruinniú ar líne chun vóta a chaitheamh. Déanfar ballraíocht a sheiceáil! Go n-éirí go geal lenár n-iarrthóirí go léir 🩵

Trinity FLAC is delighted to celebrate the publication of the Michaelmas term research project titled “Family, Identify and Access to Justice”. Please join Trinity FLAC’s on our publication launch this Wednesday @6 :30PM in the GMB! This is Trinity FLAC’s final event of the year with free wine included! We are especially grateful to our Legal Research Officer, Maeve and our two Deputy Research Officers, Ella and Odhrán, and every individual who contributed to this fantastic publication🩵 Tá áthas ar Trinity FLAC ceiliúradh a dhéanamh ar fhoilsiú thionscadal taighde théarma Michaelmas dar teideal “Teaghlach, Féiniúlacht agus Rochtain ar Cheartas”. Bígí linn ag seoladh ár bhfoilseacháin Dé Céadaoin seo ag 6:30in sa GMB! Is é seo an t-imeacht deireanach de chuid Trinity FLAC i mbliana agus beidh fíon saor in aisce ar fáil! Táimid thar a bheith buíoch dár nOifigeach Taighde Dlí, Maeve, agus dár Leas-Oifigigh Taighde, Ella agus Odhrán chomh maith le gach duine a chuir leis an bhfoilseachán den scoth seo 🩵

Calling all prospective FLAC Committee members! If you would like to run for a role on the FLAC Committee please come along to our AGM on the 8th of April @4PM in House 39. For those looking to apply for the role of chair please email us ([email protected]) a 500 word manifesto by 7th @11 :59PM, and a 250 word manifesto for every other role. Each candidate can go for more than one role. If you are unable to make it in person, you can pre-record a video or join via zoom link! You do have to be a member of the society to run & to vote. Best of luck prospective FLAC members🩵 Ag glaoch ar gach duine atá ag smaoineamh ar bheith ina bhall de Choiste FLAC! Má tá suim agat rith do ról ar Choiste FLAC, tar chuig ár gCruinniú Cinn Bhliana (AGM) ar an 8ú d’Aibreán ag 4 i.n. i dTeach 39. Dóibh siúd atá ag iarraidh iarratas a dhéanamh ar ról an chathaoirligh, seol ríomhphost chugainn ([email protected]) le forógra 500 focal faoin 7ú ag 11:59 i.n., agus forógra 250 focal do gach ról eile. Is féidir le gach iarrthóir dul san iomaíocht do níos mó ná ról amháin. Mura bhfuil tú in ann freastal go pearsanta, is féidir leat físeán a réamhthaifeadadh nó páirt a ghlacadh trí nasc Zoom! Go n-éirí go geal le gach iarrthóir ar Choiste FLAC 🩵

We are thrilled to congratulate the winners of The Eagle x FLAC essay competition! The standard of submissions was incredibly high, and we’d like to commend everyone who participated. Congratulations to the winner, Sarah Gonnord and our runner up, Eve O’Callaghan! Both essays will be published in Volume 12, Issue 2 of the Eagle. Stay tuned for its release!

We were honoured to welcome Darragh Mackin to Trinity College Dublin to receive this year’s Trinity FLAC Advocacy Award. Darragh is one of the leading human rights and public interest lawyers on this island, with a career defined by advocacy, accountability, and the protection of fundamental rights. This year’s award recognises his outstanding contribution to advocacy and his commitment to using the law as a tool to secure justice and hold power to account. Throughout his work, Darragh has been involved in some of the most significant and impactful cases in recent years — from acting for the Hooded Men in their challenge before the UK Supreme Court, to representing Sarah Ewart in her landmark challenge to abortion law in Northern Ireland, and defending artistic and political expression, most recently through his representation of Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh (Mo Chara of Kneecap). The award was presented by our Secretary Laura Halpenny, who also introduced Darragh on the day, followed by an interview-style discussion led by our Chairperson Daria Jedruch. It was a truly engaging and insightful conversation, offering valuable reflections on advocacy, the realities of legal practice, and the role of law in securing justice. At Trinity FLAC, we are committed to promoting access to justice and public legal education, and Darragh’s work reflects these values in practice, making him a truly deserving recipient of this year’s award. Thank you again to Darragh for joining us and for sharing his time, insight, and experience with us.

We were greatly honoured to present the Praeses Elit Award, in collaboration with Trinity FLAC, to Mary Lawlor this past Wednesday. It was a very special occasion and a valuable opportunity to recognise her work and her ongoing commitment to human rights. We would like to sincerely thank Mary Lawlor for addressing the students and for taking part in a highly engaging and inspiring interview moderated by the Chair of Trinity FLAC, @dariajedruch . We also very much appreciated the collaboration with Trinity FLAC, which helped make the event possible. Finally, we would like to thank everyone who joined us on the day and contributed to such a positive and vibrant atmosphere. —————————————————— Bhí sé d’onóir mhór againn Gradam Praeses Elit a bhronnadh, i gcomhar le Trinity FLAC, ar Mary Lawlor Dé Céadaoin seo caite. Ba ócáid thar a bheith speisialta í agus deis luachmhar a bhí ann aitheantas a thabhairt dá cuid oibre agus dá tiomantas leanúnach do chearta an duine. Gabhaimid buíochas ó chroí le Mary Lawlor as labhairt leis na mic léinn agus as páirt a ghlacadh in agallamh fíorshuimiúil agus spreagúil faoi stiúir Chathaoirleach Trinity FLAC, Daria Jedruch. Ba mhór againn freisin an comhoibriú le Trinity FLAC a chuidigh leis an ócáid a chur i gcrích. Ar deireadh, gabhaimid buíochas le gach duine a tháinig linn ar an lá agus a chuir leis an atmaisféar dearfach agus bríomhar.

We are delighted to announce that this year’s Trinity FLAC Advocacy Award 2026 will be presented to Darragh Mackin. Described as “a man for all seasons, needed for all sorts of reasons,” Darragh is one of the most prominent human rights and public interest lawyers on this island. Over the course of his career, he has become widely recognised for his commitment to advocacy, accountability, and the protection of fundamental rights, as well as for the breadth and significance of the work he has undertaken both in Ireland and internationally. Working across areas including human rights, public law, international law, and freedom of expression, Darragh has built a career defined by the use of law as a tool for justice. His work reflects a deep commitment not only to legal excellence, but to the wider social purpose of advocacy — standing with those seeking truth, accountability, and protection in some of the most challenging legal and public contexts. Many of you may also recently have recognised his name through his representation of Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh (Mo Chara of Kneecap) in a case that brought questions of artistic freedom and political expression sharply into public focus. His work in this area reflects the wider values that underpin so much of his career: a belief in the importance of rights protection, fearless advocacy, and the role of law in responding to difficult and often contested issues. Darragh’s career and contribution make him a truly fitting recipient of this year’s Trinity FLAC Advocacy Award, and we are honoured to welcome him to Trinity for this special event. Join us this Thursday at 2PM in GMB Chamber!

As Shakespeare wrote in Henry VI, “the first thing we’ll do, let’s [unalive] all the lawyers”. I hate law students as much as the next guy - but what if it isn’t the lawyers so much as the overarching legal system that’s to blame for Ireland’s problems? Or maybe it’s all the politicians’ fault? Whatever the case, Ireland certainly has its fair share of problems - come join us, in collaboration with Trinity FLAC, as we play the blame game. Wednesday 7.30 in the GMB, our second last debate of the year!

We are deeply honoured to present the Praeses Elit Award, in collaboration with FLAC, to Mary Lawlor in recognition of her extraordinary contribution to human rights and justice. As the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders, Mary Lawlor has dedicated her career to protecting those who courageously stand up for the rights of others As the founder of Front Line Defenders, her work has had a profound global impact, supporting human rights defenders across the world and ensuring their voices are heard and protected. In partnership with FLAC, this award celebrates not only Mary’s remarkable achievements, but her unwavering commitment to access to justice, equality, and the defence of fundamental rights. ———————————————————————— Is mór an onóir dúinn Gradam Praeses Elit a bhronnadh, i gcomhar le FLAC, ar Mary Lawlor mar aitheantas ar a cuid oibre eisceachtúla ar son chearta an duine agus na córa. Mar Rapóirtéir Speisialta na Náisiún Aontaithe ar Chosantóirí Chearta an Duine, tá a saol caite ag Mary Lawlor ag cosaint iad siúd a sheasann suas ar son cearta daoine eile. Mar bhunaitheoir Front Line Defenders, tá tionchar domhanda ollmhór ag a cuid oibre, ag tacú le cosantóirí chearta an duine ar fud an domhain agus ag cinntiú go gcloistear agus go gcosnaítear a nglórtha. I gcomhpháirt le FLAC, ceiliúrann an gradam seo ní hamháin a cuid éachtaí suntasacha, ach a tiomantas leanúnach do rochtain ar cheartas, comhionannas, agus cosaint na gceart bunúsach.