Law firm DLA Piper’s ‘Know Your Rights’ programme has announced a partnership with Deloitte to provide three paid internship opportunities for refugees and asylum seekers.

‘Know Your Rights’ is a seven-week legal education training programme that empowers asylum seekers and refugees to better advocate for themselves and know their rights.

It is a programme for refugees, led by refugees, with DLA Piper’s pro bono legal officer, Awmaima Amrayaf, driving and coordinating the programme.

Working with the Irish Refugee Council, Amrayaf and the DLA Piper in Ireland team have tailored the course to meet the issues faced by asylum seekers and refugees in Ireland.

DLA Piper partner Maura Dineen (pictured) explained that the programme covers the legal system, employment, housing and consumer rights.

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“We have worked hard with the Irish Refugee Council to tailor the programme to address particular issues relevant to Ireland, and we look forward to continuing to deliver the programme to participants in the future,” she added.

Deloitte partner Róisín Fitzpatrick added: “Our internship offers participants an opportunity to develop a technical skillset, in addition to professional skills, in our teams and workplace. We hope it provides a step and a network to entering Ireland’s labour market.”

Nick Henderson, CEO, Irish Refugee Council, commented: “The opportunity of a paid internship with Deloitte at the end of the programme gives people a chance to get great experience in a professional environment. We are looking forward to rolling out the third phase of the programme later in 2022.”

So far, c.90 refugees, asylum seekers and migrants have participated in the ‘Know Your Rights’ programme in Ireland.

To date, there have been 21 editions of KYR in 11 countries including Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Thailand, United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand in partnership with 15 NGO partners.