Public Interest Litigation Support

We break down legal, financial and knowledge barriers to help NGOs and solicitors in Northern Ireland build life-changing public Interest litigation.

[Public Interest Litigation Support @PILSni]

We’re stepping away from X.

After careful consideration, PILS have decided to step away from X (formerly Twitter).

From 17/02/2026, PILS will no longer be posting here.

[Public Interest Litigation Support @PILSni]

You can continue to follow PILS here:

LinkedIn: https://t.co/L0yZwmRfB2
Bluesky: https://t.co/GvJb3bTNAQ
Our To Be Fair NI podcast: https://t.co/q31ARVVSGc
Our website & The Update newsletter: https://t.co/PEAOOK8MKn

Thank you for being part of our community. Slán go fóill.

[Public Interest Litigation Support @PILSni]

We’re stepping away from X.

After careful consideration, PILS have decided to step away from X (formerly Twitter).

From 17/02/2026, PILS will no longer be posting here.

[Public Interest Litigation Support @PILSni]

This decision has been driven by data and our core values as a human rights organisation.

Our account will remain dormant, as a library of our previous work.

[Conradh na Gaeilge ⭕️ @CnaG]

⚖️ UPDATE: Irish Language to feature in 3 Court Cases this week👇

📍INNIU • TODAY
👩‍⚖️@belfastcc Standing Orders, "Call-in" & Irish Language Policy

📍DÉ CÉADAOIN • WEDNESDAY
👨‍⚖️ Failure to adopt Irish Language Strategy
🚂 Dual-Language Signage @ Grand Central

@KRWLaw @PILSni

[Public Interest Litigation Support @PILSni]

Wishing our members, pro bono lawyers, Board, funders & supporters a very Happy New Year!🎉

Together, we were tenacious, creative & loud in defending #HumanRights in 2025.

In 2026, we’ll keep backing our members to challenge injustice, protect rights & promote equality in NI!

[Public Interest Litigation Support @PILSni]

🪧25 years of the Human Rights Act... and the work continues!🪧

Our latest #TBFNI episode features powerful speeches from Kate Barry & @JohnWadham at our Autumn Social.

A dose of hope for activists, lawyers and everyone defending #HumanRights in NI.

🆕https://t.co/W6qB4gNQ7l

[Public Interest Litigation Support @PILSni]

💬"...I felt people were taking us a wee bit more seriously… because we had this backing of yourselves…”

In the latest #TBFNI episode, Deena Nimick & Wesley McGrady share how their collaboration strengthened a @cfilni campaign: https://t.co/q31ARVVSGc

#WeDoProBono @TheBarofNI

[Public Interest Litigation Support @PILSni]

NEW EPISODE🎙️

What happens when a campaign hits a wall of legislation?

@cfilni's Deena Nimick teamed up with @TheBarofNI barrister Wesley McGrady through the @PILSni Pro Bono Register.

Listen to their story now: https://t.co/zjyE4vjg7f

#TBFNI #WeDoProBono

[Public Interest Litigation Support @PILSni]

Why do lawyers share their time and expertise for free?

In Episode 1 of our new podcast series, @TheBarofNI barrister Iryna Kennedy reveals how the journey from linguistics to law inspired her pro bono collaboration w/ @CnaG @CAJNi

🎙️https://t.co/JI1A58DdeJ

#WeDoProBono #TBFNI

[Public Interest Litigation Support @PILSni]

🎙️ To Be Fair NI is back!🎙️

Episode 1 features @cuisle_wilson, Úna Boyd & Iryna Kennedy. 3 incredible women whose story explores language equality, transparency & how to build change.

Listen now/Éist anois: https://t.co/JI1A58DdeJ

@CnaG @CAJNi @TheBarofNI

#WeDoProBono #TBFNI

[Public Interest Litigation Support @PILSni]

🆕Podcast Alert🆕

To Be Fair NI returns for Series 2 on Thurs 13 Nov 2025.

Join us for a special set of #WeDoProBono interviews, reuniting incredible activists and Pro Bono Register lawyers.

Justice really is a team sport.

@ProBonoWeekUK @CAJNi @CnaG @TheBarofNI #CILNI

[Public Interest Litigation Support @PILSni]

If today's conversation lit a spark of pro bono inspiration, we'd encourage you to add your name to the growing community that is PILS' Pro Bono Register:

https://t.co/VTwoEPNDaE

[Public Interest Litigation Support @PILSni]

"What better way to serve the public interest as a lawyer than to get involved in public interest litigation?"

This is one of the questions that our Director Kate Barry posed today during her lunchtime seminar to mark Pro Bono Week UK 2025.

#WeDoProBono #ProBonoWeek

[Public Interest Litigation Support @PILSni]

Thank you to everyone who joined our conversation, with particular thanks to:
✨ our guest speaker Leona Askin BL
✨ @TobyBrownUK for taking a very early morning flight to join us
✨ @YoungBarNI's Katherine Sharpe & everyone @TheBarofNI for welcoming us to the Inn of Court.

[Public Interest Litigation Support @PILSni]

Designed to meet the needs of local human rights defenders and launched in 2025, the guide was a collaborative project between PILS, @CAJNi, @EJNI_Online and @foe_ni.

🔗https://t.co/lMIGlTICan

[Public Interest Litigation Support @PILSni]

Great discussion at last night’s @ProBonoWeekUK launch on the many forms of legal pro bono.

From Belfast, we couldn’t agree more! The NI Know Your Rights to Protest guide, built with 5 pro bono barristers, shows how legal skills can empower communities💪

#WeDoProBono

[Public Interest Litigation Support @PILSni]

Sign up now for a chance to ask PILS your burning pro bono questions, as well as securing a CPD point and lunch! ⬇️

https://t.co/rEe3tYYu1h

@ProBonoWeekUK #ProBonoWeek

[Public Interest Litigation Support @PILSni]

📣 GUEST SPEAKER ANNOUNCEMENT📣

@PILSni & @YoungBarNI are delighted to have barrister Leona Askin BL joining us tomorrow.

A long-time member of the PILS Pro Bono Register, Leona will reflect on her recent experiences & on what pro bono means to her in 2025.

#WeDoProBono

[Public Interest Litigation Support @PILSni]

The @PILSni team are excited to be celebrating Pro Bono Week from 03-07 November!

This year’s theme is ‘Pro Bono in Action’.

🗓️Check out all the events taking place: https://t.co/6loHTpmgHP
➡️Follow @ProBonoWeekUK
🤳Join the conversation online with #ProBonoWeek & #WeDoProBono

[Bar of NI @TheBarofNI]

🗂️ UK Pro Bono Week 2025: An introduction to public interest litigation and PILS’ Pro Bono Register 🗂️

To mark UK Pro Bono Week 2025, @PILSni is co-hosting an event with the Young Bar Association.

📅 Tuesday 04 November 2025,13.00-14.00

📍 The Inn of Court, Royal Courts of Justice, Chichester St, Belfast BT1 3JF (in-person only)

📓 1 CPD point; sandwich lunch served from 12.30

This CPD-accredited seminar is open to all practising barristers and solicitors, whether or not you have already joined PILS’ Pro Bono Register.

PILS will provide an introduction to public interest litigation and offer guidance on how to identify cases which have the potential to change the law for the benefit of the wider public and/or specific communities.

PILS’ Director/Solicitor Kate Barry will examine how this litigation has been used in Northern Ireland, the current ‘hot topics’ in public interest litigation and an overview of how our Pro Bono Register operates in practice.

Attendees will have the opportunity to ask PILS questions; sandwiches, tea and coffee will be served.

Register now to secure your place:
https://t.co/zJrlRVTLDS