|
Annual Report 2007 - Key Achievements & Developments in 2007
Funding
The level of funding increased on the law centre side from €21.913m in 2006 to €24.288m in 2007 which represented an increase of 11%. For the Refugee Legal Service, funding increased by just over 11% to €8.617m.
Cases
Legal aid and advice was provided by the Board’s law centres in 13,905 cases during 2007 as compared with 13,154 cases in 2006, an increase of over 5%.
Refugee Legal Service
In respect of the Refugee Legal Service (RLS), 2,650 new clients registered for legal services, compared to 2,980 the previous year.
Maximum waiting list of four months
A high level objective of the Board is to provide legal services to all applicants within a maximum period of four months. This objective was mainly achieved in 2007 with a six-month waiting time in just one law centre at the end of 2007. Those seeking services in relation to urgent matters received an immediate or near immediate service.
Alternative Conflict Resolution
During 2007, the Board reaffirmed its commitment to alternative methods of resolving conflicts and disputes, other than the courts process, by consistently seeking to promote to clients, potential clients and the general public the benefits of engaging in negotiation to resolve family problems.Training was provided on collaborative law for both Board solicitors and private practitioners.
Legal Advice Only Service
An evaluation of the Legal Advice Only Service, which was introduced in five law centres on a pilot basis in 2006, was completed in 2007 to enable the Board to consider the effectiveness of the provision of a timely advice service, for both the Board and clients, and make arrangements for the future of such a service. The evaluation is currently under consideration.
File Review Procedure
In 2007, the Board commenced an agreed systematic File Review Procedure with in-house solicitors to ensure clients were receiving a quality service. A file review system in respect of cases referred to private solicitors under the Circuit Court Private Practitioner Scheme was also established.
Website
The revised Board website was launched in 2007 for the purpose of providing comprehensive and improved information on the Board’s services in an accessible and user-friendly format.
External Communications Strategy
The Board developed a comprehensive External Communications Strategy in 2007 for the purpose of improving the level and quality of the Board’s communications with the public, clients and all stakeholders.
Delivery of Legal Services in the Refugee Legal Service
A comprehensive review of the operations and arrangements for Delivery of Legal Services in the Refugee Legal Service was undertaken by the Board in 2007. Recommendations were made on foot of the review and an implementation plan has been drawn up to monitor progress on the achievement of the recommendations.
| 
