Monday 10^th March: Community Law & Mediation (CLM) is delighted to announce the appointment of Aoife Kelly-Desmond as its new Chief Executive Officer. Aoife brings a wealth of experience to the role, having previously served as the Managing Solicitor at Mercy Law Resource Centre, an independent law centre which provides  free legal advice and representation to individuals experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness. 

Aoife previously worked as a solicitor in A&L Goodbody and Matheson, where she advised commercial entities, in particular financial institutions, and public bodies on investigations, regulatory matters and complex litigation and disputes.  

Aoife is chairperson of Plan International Ireland, an international development charity that works to advance the rights of children and promote equality for girls. She is a member of the CORU Social Workers Registration Board representing the interests of the general public.  

Aoife is a member of the Law Society of Ireland, a graduate of University College Cork and has completed post-graduate programmes in law and business disciplines with Queen Mary, University of London, the Leicester Castle Business School, DeMontfort University of Leicester, and the United Nations Institute for Training and Research. 

Commenting on Aoife’s appointment, Éamonn Conlon, Chair of Community Law & Mediation, said: “On behalf of the Board and the entire team at Community Law & Mediation, I am delighted to welcome Aoife Kelly-Desmond as our new CEO. As we celebrate our 50th anniversary and focus on our strategic vision for the future, we look forward to working alongside Aoife to advance our mission and strengthen our impact in the years ahead.  

We would like to take this opportunity to thank our outgoing CEO, Rose Wall, for her outstanding leadership of CLM over the last twelve years and to wish her our very best as she moves on to pursue new adventures and opportunities.” 

“I am excited to take on the role of CEO at Community Law & Mediation, an organisation that has been at the forefront of advancing access to justice for fifty years. At a time when human rights and the systems that protect them are increasingly under threat, CLM’s work is more important than ever. Now, more than ever, we must boldly champion human rights and equality. I look forward to working with our dedicated team to further our mission, strengthen our services, and ensure that marginalised individuals and communities have access to the support they need to safeguard and promote their rights.” 

Aoife Kelly-Desmond

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Community Law & Mediation, which celebrates its 50^th anniversary this year, was established in 1975 as Ireland’s first independent community law centre. Over the past five decades, the organisation has evolved from a neighbourhood law centre to a national service with physical locations in Coolock and Limerick and offering new services in mediation, environmental justice and children’s law. It has played a significant role in the movement for civil legal aid in Ireland. 

Each year, it assists with more than 4,700 legal and mediation matters and provides ‘know your rights’ talks and legal training to more than 1,450 people.