Skip over main navigation
  • Log in
  • Basket: (0 items)
Irish Refugee Council
Tagline goes here
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
Get Help  Donate
  • Twitter
Menu
  • Ukraine/Україна
    • Ukraine information hub/ Україна інформаційна hub
  • About Us
    • Who we are
      • Vision, values & purpose
      • How we work
    • Our Team
    • Media Centre
      • News
      • Press Releases
      • Archive
      • Press contact
    • Vacancies
    • Contact us
    • Governance
      • Charity regulations
      • Accounts & Finances
      • Board of Directors
    • Our Covid-19 response
    • Strategy & Impact
    • Our History
    • Our Partners
  • What We Do
    • Services
      • Drop-In Centre
      • Law Centre
    • Supports
      • Housing
      • Employment
      • Education
      • Youth Work
      • Resettlement
      • Community Sponsorship
    • Networks
    • Outreach
      • Schools
      • Interpreter training
  • Get Help
    • Need Support?
    • Get Legal Advice
    • Useful Information
      • Information Notes
      • FAQs
      • Family Reunification FAQs
      • Definitions
    • Support Groups
  • Get Involved
    • Why support us?
    • Ways to support
      • Donate
      • Putting Down Roots, Education Fundraiser
      • Tax Efficient Giving
      • Fundraise for us
      • Become a member
      • Raise awareness
      • Partner with us
      • Leave a Gift in my Will
      • Community sponsorship
    • Work for us
  • Policy & Advocacy
    • Policy areas
      • Asylum Policy
      • Asylum Process Reform
      • Children & Young People
      • Direct Provision
      • LGBT
      • International Submissions
      • International Protection Bill
      • Humanitarian Refugee Crisis
    • Best Practice
      • Early Legal Advice
      • Interpreter training
    • Publications
  • Admin
    • Log in
  • Basket: (0 items)
  • Early Legal Advice
  1. What We Do
  2. Services
  3. Law Centre

Early Legal Advice

As part of the asylum process, people seeking international protection are subjected to close investigations in a strange environment without a clear understanding of what is expected. An alien and often debilitating experience, it can exacerbate the trauma of those seeking protection. Through the Irish Refugee Council Independent Law Centre, we provide legal advice for people in this early stage of the asylum process, in advance of their interview with the International Protection Office. 

Early Legal Advice (ELA) is an essential pillar of a meaningful asylum system. Given the complexities of this area and the inherent vulnerability of people seeking protection, early intervention is as valuable and important as it is in other areas of law. The asylum process places a considerable, and arguably unequal, burden on those seeking protection to substantiate their application as soon as possible, cooperate with the decision-maker and meet a particular standard and burden of proof. ELA can assist in discharging this significant burden. 

Innovative Model

Since 2011, our Law Centre has developed an innovative model of free ELA for those in need of international protection in Ireland. The Centre has found that ELA has been particularly important for vulnerable adults who may have difficulty articulating their application, particularly in an unfamiliar environment. 

ELA is also valuable for those who have not yet applied for protection and who wish to make an informed decision about making an application for protection. In providing services at the earliest possible stage, ELA protects the integrity of the process by preventing unnecessary applications for international protection as well as offering comprehensive individualised advice and representation to those in the process. 

ELA Manual

Informed by our work, we have published a manual on providing ELA for people seeking protection which aims to give practical guidance to lawyers, legal advisors and legal representatives, caseworkers and NGOs who give legal advice and assistance to their clients during the first instance protection procedure. Our hope is that the manual will be used across the EU and beyond.  

Download Manual

Read more:

Providing Protection: Access to early legal advice for asylum seekers

 

Published: 10th April, 2020

Updated: 7th September, 2021

Author: Deleted User

Share this page
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Latest

  • Press Release: Ukraine Civil Society Forum calls for urgent action in response to crisis of refugee accommodation and welfare

    Press Release: Ukraine Civil Society Forum calls for urgent action in response to crisis of refugee accommodation and welfare

  • ‘Believe me or not but I am who I am’: new report on lived experience of LGBT protection applicants

  • Research Involving People of a Refugee Background, new UCD publication

    Research Involving People of a Refugee Background, new UCD publication

  • Nick Henderson, Chief Executive Officer

    Nick Henderson, Chief Executive Officer

Related

  • A&L Goodbody Partnership

    We are partners in advising and representing people through the international protection process

  • Family Reunification

    Family Reunification

    We represent people recognised as refugees to be reunited with their family in Ireland

  • Interpreter training

    Interpreter training

  • Community sponsorship

    Community sponsorship

  • Providing Protection

    Providing Protection

    Access to early legal advice for people seeking asylum

Most read

  • Ukraine information note (updated 14 April)

    Ukraine information note (updated 14 April)

  • Vacancies

    Vacancies

  • Donate to support refugees in Ireland

    Donate to support refugees in Ireland

  • Ukrainian language information helpline/Інформаційна лінія українською мовою

    Ukrainian language information helpline/Інформаційна лінія українською мовою

  • Support refugees from Ukraine

  • Information note: 2022 regularisation scheme now open

    Information note: 2022 regularisation scheme now open

  • Contact us

  • Housing/Житло

    Housing/Житло

  • Who we are

    Who we are

  • Afghanistan response appeal

    Afghanistan response appeal

Our response to the Covid-19 pandemic

Read more

Published: 27th April, 2020

Updated: 12th June, 2020

Author: Nicholas Henderson

Latest tweet

  • RT @mavis_nerd: Yesterday we received first donation @eciycireland @donnahsvuma at our offices @IrishRefugeeCo thank you so much fo… https://t.co/TqFByX18iH

    9thAugust, 2022 @IrishRefugeeCo
  • RT @HelpingHostsIRL: Our Information Roadshow kicks off in #Maynooth this Thurs Aug 11. Special guest host ⁦@gokathrynthomas⁩ joins us w… https://t.co/yz41zWGkNy

    9thAugust, 2022 @IrishRefugeeCo
  • 3,000 Ukrainians 'must leave' student accommodation https://t.co/oHi6fx57kd via @rte

    7thAugust, 2022 @IrishRefugeeCo
  • FAQs
  • Contact us
  • Sitemap
  • Accessibility
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy policy

Registered office
37 Killarney Street
Dublin 1
D01 NX74

Phone: 00 353 1 764 5854
Fax: 00 353 1 672 5927
Email: [email protected]

CHY Number: 10153
Registered Charity Number: 20025724
CRO Number: 188693

Sign up for our newsletter

Please enter your first name
Please enter your last name
Please enter your email address Please enter a valid email address (e.g. [email protected])
Manage Cookie Preferences