Top tier firm A&L Goodbody (ALG) is introducing a new trainee rotation in its pro bono practice.

The rotation, starting in April next year, will be the first of its kind in Ireland.

ALG's award-winning pro bono practice provides free legal advice to organisations and individuals who otherwise may not have access to the justice system and sits at the centre of the firm's responsible business strategy.

Each year ALG provides approximately 6,000 hours of free legal advice from all its lawyers and trainees, in areas such as human rights, housing and asylum law.

Skills

The pro bono trainee will work closely with charities, not-for-profit organisations and pro bono partners in managing and providing this service. For trainees, the rotation will develop skills in client care, project management and most importantly legal research, drafting and advocacy, a firm spokesman said.

Partner Eamonn Conlon (pictured) said: "Creating this trainee rotation is an important part of our overall pro bono strategy. It's another example of how we are leading the Irish market for pro bono, having been the first in Ireland to appoint a pro bono associate and by setting very ambitious targets to help our community partners and clients."

Trainee partner Ronan Lyons said: "This is another first for our award-winning trainee programme.

“Last year, we were the first to introduce a trainee rotation in our client technology team and now we are the first to do so with pro bono. Not only will it be a fascinating and important learning experience for our trainees but it will also help instil our long-established culture of pro bono and our wider corporate responsibilities."

ALG works in partnership with domestic and international “clearing houses”, including the Public Interest Law Alliance, Business in the Community and TrustLaw (the Thomson Reuters Foundation). They match ALG's expertise with specific legal needs in organisations such as the Mercy Law Resource Centre and Spirasi.

Excellence

In 2019, ALG's collaborative partnership with the Irish Refugee Council was awarded Excellence in Marketplace at the Chambers Ireland CSR Awards.

ALG is the only law firm in Ireland to have achieved the Business Working Responsibly Mark.

ALG's trainee programmes brings graduates through a three-year training programme to qualify as solicitors.