From Department of Justice Ireland.
Published on 31 October 2024
The Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee TD, has today (Thursday) published a plan to address the barriers facing many newly qualified and early career solicitors and barristers. The plan was noted by Government at yesterday’s Cabinet meeting.
Minister McEntee asked the Legal Services Regulatory Authority (LSRA) to submit a plan to implement the recommendations of its Breaking Down Barriers Report.
The report, which was published in September, examined how a range of issues such as financial means, geography and professional connections can act as obstacles to progression for those studying or starting out in the legal professions.
Welcoming the development at Cabinet today, Minister McEntee said:
“We must do everything possible to widen and increase access to education, training, and career opportunities. Any person who has the skills and determination to pursue a career in the legal professions should be empowered to do so, irrespective of their social or economic background, gender, ethnicity or where they are from.
“The Breaking Down Barriers Report identified key areas in need of reform, and this implementation plan identifies a clear and cohesive path by which this reform can be achieved.
“To ensure continued momentum and progress, I have requested that the LSRA provide progress reports to my Department every 6 months.”
The plan contains 32 recommendations, and the implementation process will be led by the CEO of the LSRA, who will also chair the Barriers Implementation Working Group.
Relevant professional bodies will be invited to nominate representatives to sit on the Working Group, which will hold quarterly progress update meetings with the legal professional bodies, the Law Society of Ireland, the Honourable Society of King’s Inns and the Bar of Ireland.
The Minister added:
“Reform at this level will involve a range of stakeholders and I welcome the LSRA’s prioritising of regular meetings, discussion, and collaboration between the relevant parties to drive progress.
“I am particularly pleased to see that the LSRA’s annual ‘Pathways to the Professions’, report on admissions to the legal professions will be used as a reporting mechanism on issues such as diversity among entrants to legal professional education and training.
“Where the proposed recommendations relate to legal professional education and training, input will be sought from the Legal Practitioners Education and Training Committee (LPET), the establishment of which was recommended in the 2020 report, ‘Setting Standards: Legal Practitioner Education and Training and will require primary legislation’.
“The LRSA has established an Education and Training Committee, to undertake the preparatory work necessary for the establishment of the LPET.”
Dr Brian Doherty, Chief Executive Officer of the Legal Service Regulatory Authority said:
“The LSRA very much looks forward to working with all relevant stakeholders with the common goal of building a more inclusive and diverse legal services sector.
“The recommendations made in the Breaking Down Barriers report represent an important reform initiative which will build upon measures introduced in recent years by key stakeholders, including the professional bodies for solicitors and barristers, the Law Society of Ireland, the Bar of Ireland and the Honorable Society of King’s Inns.”
The LSRA Breaking Down Barriers Implementation Plan can be accessed here: https://www.lsra.ie/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/LSRA-Barriers-Report-Implementation-Plan-FINAL.pdf
