Mercy Law Resource Centre (MLRC) has launched its second Final Hour Campaign, which asks law firms to donate the last hour of the working year to support the centre’s work.

MLRC provides free legal advice and representation to those at risk of homelessness.

The idea involves donating the value of the last hour of the working year before seasonal festivities begin.

Legal barriers

Speaking on the launch of the campaign, MLRC’s managing solicitor Aoife Kelly-Desmond (pictured) said: “Lawyers are used to accounting for every minute of their time. This year, Mercy Law Resource Centre is asking law firms and legal professionals to consider donating the value of their final billable hour of 2023.

“This contribution will help MLRC support people facing homelessness through legal barriers preventing them from accessing safe, secure housing,” she added.

Kelly-Desmond said that there were now more than 12,500 people – almost 4,000 of them children – living in homelessness.

So far in 2023, new requests for assistance were up more than 40% compared to the same period last year, MLRC stated.

Firms who wish to donate to the Final Hour Campaign can find more information on the Mercy Law website.