Press release
Minister for Justice Simon Harris appoints Ms Joan Crawford as CEO of the Legal Aid Board
Published on
Last updated on
Published on
Last updated on
The Minister for Justice Simon Harris has today announced the appointment of Ms Joan Crawford as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Legal Aid Board.
The Legal Aid Board is the statutory, independent body responsible for the provision of civil legal aid and advice to people of modest means. As CEO, Ms Crawford will be responsible for managing a budget of €56 million as well as providing leadership and strategic direction to a team of more than 520 staff across the State.
Her appointment follows an open recruitment process held by the Public Appointments Service and selection by the Top Level Appointments Committee (TLAC).
Announcing the appointment Minister Harris said:
"I congratulate Ms Crawford on becoming the first female CEO of the Legal Aid Board. Over the past 20 years, Joan has built up a wealth of experience, both in frontline service delivery and across a variety of leadership roles.
"The Legal Aid Board is central to ensuring fair access to justice for people of limited means, access to mediation for couples separating or divorcing and driving improvements in how the family justice system works for children and families.
“I wish Joan the very best in her new role and look forward to seeing how her experience and expertise will contribute to the many future-facing developments that are happening in relation to the Legal Aid Board, including the ongoing Review of the Civil Legal Scheme.”
Minister Harris also thanked outgoing CEO Mr John McDaid for his service:
“John is a consummate professional who has shown strong leadership since he was first appointed in 2014.
“This was particularly evident during the difficult period of COVID-19, when he ensured that front-line services were maintained especially in the area of domestic and family law.
“His tireless advocacy for improvements in the delivery of legal aid and advice, for reform of the family justice system more generally and his commitment to developing family mediation services, aligns with many of the goals and actions in my department’s Family Justice Strategy.
“I hope John takes great pride in the valuable service he has given.”
Speaking about her appointment, Ms Crawford said:
“It is a great honour to be appointed to the role of Chief Executive Officer of the Legal Aid Board.
“By providing essential legal services to those who need them most and mediation services for couples separating or divorcing, our organisation plays an important role in society, paving a pathway for people to resolve their disputes, seek protection, or vindicate their rights.
“We have a dedicated and diverse workforce who aspire to excellence in service of our clients. Together, we will work to overcome present and future challenges and evolve as an organisation that continues to place the client, access to justice, and problem solving at the core of our decision-making.
“I believe the Board possesses the ability and standing to provide leadership and initiative in family justice reform. Working closely with all those with an interest in the services provided by the Board, we will make the most of the opportunity presented by the Family Justice Strategy 2022-2025 to bring about a more streamlined and user-friendly system which places children and the family at its centre.”
Ms Nuala Jackson SC, Chairperson of the Legal Aid Board, added:
“Joan’s appointment marks a new era for the Legal Aid Board. I look forward to working with her to advance the attainment of access to justice and alternative dispute resolution through the dedication and commitment of all members of the Legal Aid Board family.
“Joan has already enjoyed a stellar career promoting the aims and objectives of the Legal Aid Board and I know that she will continue to do so as she assumes her leadership role within the organisation.”
Legal aid and advice are provided by the Legal Aid Board primarily through a network of law centres by solicitors employed by the Board. A complementary service is provided by solicitors in private practice who are engaged by the Board on a case-by-case basis. Specific law centres in Dublin, Cork and Galway include an international protection specialty and there are also dedicated units in Dublin dealing with medical negligence/personal injury cases and cases involving children at risk.
The remit of the Legal Aid Board was widened in 2011 to include responsibility for providing family mediation services, which are administered through seventeen family mediation offices, some of which are co-located with law centres.
The Board also operates a specialised refugee documentation centre, which provides an independent and professional research and library service for all of the main bodies involved in the international protection process.
The Minister for Justice on 2 June 2022 announced the first review of the Civil Legal Aid Scheme in its 40 years of operation.
The first Family Justice Strategy for 2022-2025 was published in November 2022 with the aim of modernising the family justice system to make it more user-friendly, streamlined, supportive and, where possible, less adversarial. A key action of the Strategy will see the Family Justice Implementation group working with the Civil Legal Aid Review Group to examine whether the Civil Legal Aid Scheme is meeting the needs of those families who engage with it.
The Board’s remit is in the process of being further expanded, following a government decision in 2010, to include the management and administration of the various criminal legal aid schemes currently administered by the Department of Justice. The department is preparing substantial new legislation which will see the management and administration of the criminal legal aid scheme with a budget of approximately €70 million per annum transferring to the Legal Aid Board.
An additional €3 million funding was allocated to the Legal Aid Board in Budget 2023 in respect of legal advice and support to persons under the Assisted Decision Making (Capacity) Act 2015, the main provisions of which will come into operation on 26 April 2023.
Joan Crawford has extensive experience in general practice and local government, as well as Family Law and Mediation, Child Abduction and Child Care cases in all courts.
She has served as Director of Internal Service Delivery (Civil) and Regional Manager for the Legal Aid Board, having worked as a solicitor and subsequently as a Managing Solicitor in various Law Centres in the Dublin region.
In her recent roles, Joan has been involved in developing policy, governance and strategy for the Board.
She is a graduate of University College Dublin and the Institute of Public Administration, holds a Masters in Public Management and Diplomas in European Law, Child Care Law and Mental Health and Capacity Law.