News/Blog

A tribute to our former colleague Karen Kirk

We are deeply saddened by the news that our former colleague Karen Kirk has passed away. 

Karen worked closely with the JustRight Scotland (JRS) and Scottish Women’s Rights Centre (SWRC) team in a consultancy role during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.

Karen was a fabulously kind and generous person, both with her time and her engagement with friends and colleagues. Karen was always willing to share her expertise and knowledge and always did so with her friendly smile.

Karen was a devoted feminist and advocate for mental health rights. She brought this expertise to the SWRC and continued to support our work beyond her consultancy role.

Karen helped the SWRC to establish our urgent legal advice surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic after it was recognised that women would be disproportionately impacted by the lockdowns. Karen devoted her time and expertise to weekly legal surgeries providing advice and representation to women survivors of gender-based violence (GBV), whilst at the same time continuing her important work as a mental health tribunal legal member and establishing her own legal practice, Kirk Hanlon alongside former JRS trustee, Dee Hanlon, amongst many other impressive ventures.

We send our deepest condolences to Karen's family and friends and to her children whom she fondly and regularly spoke of showing the depth of her love and commitment to her family.