Public interest litigation, or PIL, is defined as the use of litigation, or legal action, which seeks to advance the cause of minority or disadvantaged groups or individuals, or which raises issues of broad public concern.

It is a way of using the law strategically to effect social change. Despite the range of equality and human rights protections available in Northern Ireland, the reality is that not everyone has equal access to those rights and not everyone has the resources or capacity to challenge an abuse of their rights through the courts.

By taking cases that can benefit disadvantaged groups or minorities rather than just one person, PIL can be used to provide access to justice to those who are most in need of it and yet who find themselves furthest from it.

Public interest litigation, or PIL, is defined as the use of litigation, or legal action, which seeks to advance the cause of minority or disadvantaged groups or individuals, or which raises issues of broad public concern.

It is a way of using the law strategically to effect social change. Despite the range of equality and human rights protections available in Northern Ireland, the reality is that not everyone has equal access to those rights and not everyone has the resources or capacity to challenge an abuse of their rights through the courts.

By taking cases that can benefit disadvantaged groups or minorities rather than just one person, PIL can be used to provide access to justice to those who are most in need of it and yet who find themselves furthest from it.