It was an absolute pleasure to interview Ms Mary Lawlor, Special Rapporteur on human rights defenders.  Mary discusses her fascinating career devoted to human rights and in particular, those defending human rights around the world.  An excellent listen for anybody interested in working in human rights on an international level.  We are very grateful to Mary for sharing insights into her fundamental work supporting ordinary people doing extraordinary things.    

Sarah is joined by lawyer India Fahy who is an advocate for Integrated Education in Northern Ireland.  India talks about the importance of moving on from segregated education in Northern Ireland. 

While India shares positive news stories and fantastic campaign success,  there is a long way to go if Northern Ireland is to fulfil the aspirations of the Good Friday Agreement in terms of education.   India discusses the challenges we still face as a society, supply and demand for integrated education and the new Integrated Education Act.  

She also highlights the valuable work of grassroots community activism around this pertinent issue and how important parents, teachers and the Integrated Education Fund have been in carrying this campaign forward! 

India is a competition litigation solicitor with BCLP in London and is secretary of the London Irish Lawyers Association.

Link to the Integrated Education Fund: https://www.ief.org.uk/

Link to London Irish Lawyers Association: https://www.londonirishlawyers.co.uk/

Link to the Integrated Education Act: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/nia/2022/15/contents/enacted

Sarah is joined by Barrister Darren Lalor who specialises in criminal law in Dublin.  Darren talks about his unique journey into law which started in 2008 when Darren worked as a taxi driver in Dublin.

Darren will discuss the serious problems arising through the underfunded criminal legal aid system in Ireland, particularly in the District Court. Together with his colleagues across Ireland and further afield, Darren calls on everyone to support barristers on the 2nd May 2023 as they protest the abysmal legal aid rates outside courts around Ireland. 

Listen in to find out more about Darren’s work and his activism to improve legal aid funding for barristers.

This is a special episode of Activist Lawyer highlighting the fantastic efforts of Dublin-based Lawyer Edel Finn who set up a fundraiser to distribute Ukrainian books to children from Ukraine living in Ireland.  Please listen in for more information on this fantastic initiative and support Edel’s efforts if you can!

https://www.gofundme.com/f/books-for-ukrainian-children

Sarah talks with leading human rights solicitor, Kevin Winters of KRW Law in this slightly longer recording of Activist Lawyer.  Kevin has been at the cutting edge of niche criminal appeal work in Northern Ireland and further afield and was instructed in numerous high profile cases.  His work on both historical abuse cases as well as ground-breaking  litigation arising from the Troubles in Northern Ireland, is widely acknowledged on a global scale and challenges otherwise accepted  narratives informed by decades of conflict, inquests  and an ever-changing political climate across these islands over a number of decades.   Throughout this recording, Kevin importantly talks in detail about intimidation and harassment directed towards himself as well as his colleagues as they carry out their work in what continues to be, turbulent and emotionally charged times.   Listen in for excellent advice and practical tips for aspiring human rights lawyers and activist lawyers!

For more on this episode please see the following link where you will find an outline of Kevin’s work as well as a background to some of the particular challenges and legal issues his firm has worked on  https://krw-law.ie/kevin-winters/

The first episode of 2023 kicks off with Aoife Kelly Desmond, Managing Solicitor at Mercy Law Resource Centre, Dublin.   Aoife talks about transitioning from corporate law into human rights law and discusses the crucial work undertaken at MLRC particularly as Ireland faces a housing and homelessness crisis.    Activism and law in action!

Meet the solicitor who inspired Activist Lawyer, Jonathan McKeown from JMK Solicitors. Jonathan takes us back to Autumn 2020 to talk about the origin of the concept for ‘Activist Lawyer’ as not just a podcast but as an outlet for showcasing and praising the people working to make the lives of the public better not just for today but into the future. Sarah and Jonathan discuss past guests, inspiring activist lawyers, the podcast’s coverage of important legal issues and Jonathan’s own career in law, business and podcasting!

This is our FINAL episode of the year and of this season! We are delighted to have recorded over 50 episodes to date and we look forward to bringing more activism to the airwaves in 2023!

Sarah is joined by Kevin Hanratty, Director of Human Rights Consortium to discuss the engaging and imperative work his organisation undertakes to advance the development of human rights in Northern Ireland.  The Human Rights Act is up for discussion with a focus on a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland.  Listeners will gain important insights into how a state human rights review works in line with international standards and will hear more about the exciting line up for the Northern Ireland Human Rights Festival 3rd – 10th December 2022!

In this weeks episode, our host Sarah, is joined by solicitor Owen Beattie who talks about his journey into human rights, public interest law and criminal defence law before opening his new firm, Owen Beattie Solicitors this year.  Owen provides excellent insights into his current practice touching on his work with families around the Historical Institutional Abuse (HIA) Redress Board.