Advancing human rights and equality
through public interest litigation

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Staff

The PILS Project currently has three staff members:                                       

Acting Project Manager & Solicitor: Sarah Corrigan

Sarah is a Dual Qualified Solicitor. Prior to joining PILS in 2019, Sarah worked at Housing Rights for nearly 10 years. As the in-house Solicitor, Sarah acted for a number of tenants experiencing difficulties in maintaining or accessing tenancies, challenged Public Bodies and worked hard in the fight to prevent homelessness and promote social justice.

Sarah has an LLB and LPC, awarded by Northumbria University, holds a first-class honours in an LLM in Human Rights Law, from Queens University Belfast and a Certificate from the Institute of Professional Legal Studies, Belfast. Sarah is also a qualified legal mediator in Civil and Commercial matters, accredited by Institute of Professional Legal Studies, Belfast and the Law Society of NI

 

   

Project Officer: Emma Cassidy

Emma joined the PILS Project in November 2018, taking on the role of Project Officer. She is responsible for leading the Project’s communications work to raise awareness of public interest litigation and its impact. In addition to this work, Emma also assists with event organisation, office management and initiatives designed to break down barriers that prevent people accessing justice.
 
Before joining The PILS Project, Emma worked in Brussels (with ILGA-Europe, the umbrella organisation for LGBTI activists in Europe and Central Asia), Budapest (with PILnet: the Global Network for Public Interest Law) and Dublin (at FLAC, the Free Legal Advice Centres). Emma studied Economics, Politics and Law at Dublin City University and was awarded an LLM in Human Rights and Criminal Justice from Queen’s University Belfast. She is particularly happy to return to Belfast, having previously volunteered with CAJ, who are among PILS’ neighbours at Community House.
 

 

Development Officer (part time): Colm Fegan

Colm joined the PILS Project in October 2020 as the Development Officer.

Colm is qualified barrister who graduated  with a first class honours degree in Law with Politics from Queen's University Belfast in 2015 and a holds a postgraduate diploma (distinction) in Professional Legal Studies from the Institute of Professional Legal Studies.

In practice Colm has represented clients in public law cases spanning a wide range of issues, including human rights and equality, housing law and administrative law.

 

 

 

Project Manager & Solicitor: Melissa Murray (on career break from July 2020)

Melissa is the PILS Project Manager and Solicitor. She has lead the project since it first opened its doors in 2009 and has helped develop it as a centre for public interest litigation in NI.

Since the Project's inception, Melissa has been involved in promoting public interest litigation as a tool for change. Melissa studied law in Trinity College Dublin before qualifying as a solicitor in NI in 2005. Her background is in criminal and public law.

When not working at PILS, Melissa loves rambling outdoors and is always planning her next family adventure.