P.A. Duffy & Co becomes the first law firm on the island to launch an Access to Justice Fund

P.A. Duffy & Co Solicitors, a leading all-island law firm with a long-standing reputation in human rights law, has today announced the launch of its Access to Justice Fund, becoming the first law firm on the island of Ireland to establish a dedicated fund of this kind.

The Fund has been created to provide financial support for individuals and communities who face barriers in accessing legal advice and representation, reinforcing the firm’s commitment to ensuring that justice is not determined by financial means.

The fund will be supported through the firm's commitment to set aside 10% of its corporate professional fees to provide access to legal representation and support for those who may otherwise be unable to pursue their rights.

By establishing the Access to Justice Fund, P.A. Duffy & Co Solicitors is taking a leadership role within the legal profession, creating a meaningful and practical mechanism to help bridge this gap and support those most in need. This marks the first initiative of its kind led by a law firm operating in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

The firm is widely recognised for its expertise in human rights and public law, representing clients in some of the most significant and sensitive cases in recent decades. P.A. Duffy & Co Solicitors provided legal advice and representation in notable proceedings, including the Covid-19 Inquiry, the Omagh Bombing Inquiry, the cervical screening scandal, which impacted over 17,500 women and the Lough Neagh environmental crisis.

Enda McGarrity, Director and Head of Human Rights at P.A. Duffy & Co Solicitors, said:

“Access to justice is a cornerstone of a democratic society, yet too many people across this island are prevented from vindicating their rights due to financial barriers.

This Fund is about taking practical action, ensuring that we can continue to stand alongside individuals and families in the most important cases, particularly where those cases have the potential to drive wider change.

By committing a portion of our corporate professional fees to this initiative, we are embedding access to justice at the heart of everything we do as a firm.”

Legal notice: The P.A. Duffy & Co Access To Justice Fund does not involve fee sharing with 3rd parties, and the firm does not derive any financial benefit from the operation of the fund.