Person holding figures of people in their hand

We use the law to change people’s lives

At Law Centre NI, protecting people and their rights is at the heart of everything we do. We offer free, independent and specialist legal advice, casework and representation in the areas of social security, employment and immigration.

Get legal help

Our areas of work

Our advisers provide free, confidential and specialist advice and legal support on social security, employment and immigration issues.

Social Security

Our social security team provides advice and representation to challenge unfair social security decisions.

Get social security help

Employment

Our employment team provides advice and representation on employment issues.

Get employment help

Immigration

Our immigration team provides advice and representation to migrants, refugees and asylum seekers.

Get immigration help

Latest news

Keep up to date with all the latest news from Law Centre NI.

Lunch & Learn: A Guide to Coming to Northern Ireland

Hear about the journey and processes that refugees, migrants and EU residents have to go through when they arrive in Northern Ireland

Two exciting new job opportunities at Law Centre NI

We are currently recruiting a Legal and Legal Information Officer to work in our social security team, as well as a Temporary Bilingual Paralegal to assist our work at Ukraine Assistance Centres.

Law Centre NI Cost of Living Guide published

As the UK's cost of living crisis deepens, Law Centre NI has published a new Cost of Living Guide to help individuals and families in the coming months.

Advice Changes Lives: Law Centre NI client awarded arrears payment of almost £53,000

We continue our Advice Changes Lives series by bringing you ‘Andrew’s’ story.

Child Funeral Fund

The death of a child causes unimaginable pain. The Child Funeral Fund, which was introduced in Northern Ireland in June 2022, provides support to families at the most devastating time in their lives.

Law Centre NI challenges decision to deny Cost of Living payment to homeless client

Law Centre NI is challenging a decision to deny our client, who is homeless, access to a Cost of Living payment designed to help people during the current crisis.

Exciting job opportunities at Law Centre NI

We are seeking a Head of Employment and a Legal Assistant to join our team.

Law Centre NI successfully challenges decision by Information Commissioner

The ICO had previously upheld a decision by the Department for Communities not to provide us with statistics relating to social security appeals.

View all news

Connect with us

Law Centre NI blog

Read about our work and how we are making a difference to people's lives in Northern Ireland.

Retweet on Twitter Law Centre NI Retweeted

26 Jan

We were honoured to host the Refugee & Asylum Forum Gathering today at @2RoyalAvenue. We talked ACTION on #integration #wellbeing #employment #housing #education for people seeking sanctuary in NI in 2023.

Other areas of our work

Policy

Read about our policy work in the areas of social security, employment and immigration.

Resource library

All our latest publications and resources in one place.

Professional learning

Are you an adviser? Enhance your skills and knowledge through our professional learning programme.

Quality

Quality of advice matters to us.

Group of people smiling putting their hands together

Read about the dynamic and pioneering work of our Migration Justice Project and the team’s dedication to helping refugees, asylum seekers and migrant communities in Northern Ireland.

Find out more about the Migration Justice Project

In 2022, Law Centre NI celebrates 45 years of working for social justice in Northern Ireland. During that time, we have helped thousands of people challenge decisions that affect their rights through free, independent and specialist legal advice, casework and representation.

+128%

Last year we gave 30,615 pieces of legal advice – an increase of 128% from the previous year.

583

We helped 583 clients with legal challenges during 2020-2021.

£890K

Last year we achieved over £890,000 in financial settlements for our clients.

Little girl resting her head on her dad's shoulder

Owen McCloskey from Law Centre NI went above and beyond in helping me with my case. Owen, to put it simply, was with me every step of the journey, showing an empathy and determination which eventually led to my case being more than satisfactorily resolved."

Michael O'Donnell

One of our clients

Winning the appeal has changed everything for me. Not only will I get the benefits I need, but the benefit cap has been lifted. Things have been so difficult for us, but now we can concentrate on our life and our health."

'Aminah'

Law Centre NI client

It is only now that I feel I can begin to lift my head from the stress and anxiety. Whenever I expressed my work situation to others, I felt that it fell on deaf ears until I came across you...You were able to listen to my situation, give me specific and relevant advice of my options and help me to see my case through in an unbiased manner."

'Peter'

A client who sought employment advice

We have nothing but praise for our Law Centre NI caseworker. We were inspired by her knowledge, honesty and work ethic. She was logical and so very professional in her approach and was thoroughly dependable. Thank you isn't enough. A 1000 'thank yous' wouldn't be enough."

Jacqueline

A client who got help with her PIP appeal