Irish Rule of Law International (IRLI) is a project-oriented, non-profit organisation established by the Law Society of Ireland and the Bar of Ireland in 2007. In 2015, IRLI was joined by the Law Society of Northern Ireland and the Bar of Northern Ireland in the support and promotion of IRLI’s rule of law projects.
The Hon. Mr Justice Frank Clarke, Former Chief Justice of Ireland, is IRLI’s patron.
IRLI is governed by a Board of Directors including representatives of the Law Society of Ireland, the Bar of Ireland, the Law Society of Northern Ireland, and the Bar of Northern Ireland. To ensure adequate growth management, in 2015 the Board expanded to include a number of other relevant experts specialising in International Development, Access to Justice, Business and Marketing.
IRLI has staff operating from its headquarters in Dublin and also in Lilongwe.
IRLI’s project-based work is carried out through a wide range of pro-bono legal experts and programme lawyers, either remotely or in-country.
Chairperson of the Board of Directors
John Shaw, Solicitor, Former President of the Law Society of Ireland
Members of the Board of Directors
Bernard Brady QC, Barrister-at-Law, Chair of the Bar Council of Northern Ireland
Norville Connolly, Solicitor, Former President of the Law Society Northern Ireland (Norville also volunteers with us, as Country Director of our programmes in Zambia and Tanzania)
Kieran Falvey, Barrister-at-Law
Eithne Lynch, A&L Goodbody LLP
Maura McNally, Barrister-at-Law
Executive Director
Aonghus Kelly (Currently on a 6 month Sabbatical)
Director of Programmes
James Douglas- Acting ED
Programme Manager
Seán McHale
Programme Lawyer Northern Ireland
Anne-Marie Blaney
Pro Bono Development Manager
Michelle Drury
IRLI Malawi Programme on Access to Justice
Susie Kiely, Country Programme Manager
Macdara Ó Drisceoil, Programme Lawyer – Legal Aid Bureau
Martha Pigott, Programme Lawyer – Malawi Police Service
Kate Loughran, Programme Lawyer- Access to Justice Programme
Immaculate Maluza, Programme Lawyer – Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions
Lindiwe Sibande, Southern Regional Legal Coordinator
Margret Mwale, Child Diversion Programme Officer
Nellie Chipeta, Finance and Admin Officer
Finn Fellow
Sienna Dunakin
Office Manager, Dublin office
Caroline Lamba
Legal Assistant
Vongdarareach Chhour
Legal Volunteer
Neema Winfred Ngowi
Financial Controller
Evolve Chartered Accountants
Media & Communications
With thanks to Matheson for continued support