Stepping up

The five newest members of the Law Society’s Council – Thomas Coughlan, Peter Doyle, Imran Khurshid, Jonathan Lynam, and Cristina Stamatescu – talk about why they put themselves forward and what they hope to achieve. Mary Hallissey reports

As the profession continues to evolve, the Law Society remains committed to representing the interests of solicitors and the public they serve.

Central to this mission is its governing Council, which comprises elected and nominated members who oversee key functions, ranging from representation of its members, education and admission, regulation and discipline, and client protection.

The Council meets nine times a year, mostly in hybrid format – ensuring that all voices can be heard, regardless of location.

Each year, the Law Society invites members from all areas and backgrounds to stand for election. The aim is to ensure that the Council is truly representative of the changing profession and the public it serves.

We profile the five newest members who were elected to Council in 2024. Perhaps it might persuade you to consider running for election yourself. At the very least, it should encourage you to cast your vote in this important democratic process. 

Thomas Coughlan

Cork city solicitor Thomas Coughlan ran for Council because of what he terms “frustration with the Law Society’s inaction on criminal legal aid”.

He was dismayed to see the Bar Council making the running on criminal legal-aid shortfalls, poor fees, and compensation for practitioners. He wanted the issue pushed up the Law Society’s agenda.

“I love this work, but it was costing me money to do it. With the rates so low, when I took on cases, I couldn’t pay my secretary and run my office – it was that simple,” Thomas says.

He was also irritated by the Law Society’s call for a ‘yes/yes’ vote in the March 2024 referendum, for what he believes were very sound legal reasons: “Instead of telling people how to vote, the Law Society could more usefully have issued a detailed analysis of the policy positions behind the proposed constitutional changes,” he says.

He proposes that the Law Society should make it easier for members to access knowledge and education pertinent to running their business more efficiently, including free CPD on anti-money-laundering and preparing for audits.

He is impressed, however, with the Law Society’s Regulation Department and its efforts to help practitioners comply with financial regulations.

During his two-year term, Thomas would like to see structural changes for legal practices, including the possibility of becoming corporate entities: “The challenges of running a law firm as a sole principal, including managing cashflow and liability, are huge,” he says.

“Law firms should be able to form limited liability companies to retain value and spread their costs. “I have done enough ‘giving out’ about the Law Society for the past 25 years,” he says, “and this is my opportunity to make some changes. My main interest is in the form and function of law firms, and how that can be improved.” 

Peter Doyle

Peter Doyle has spent two years as chair of the Family and Child Law Committee (with responsibility also for civil legal aid) and almost eight years serving on the committee that deals with subjects very close to his heart.

“I hope that I can pursue family law and the need for reform, at Council level, and push it higher up the Government agenda,” he explains.

As a practitioner, he would like to see the Hammond Lane complex completed, as well as, ultimately, a separate Courts Service division for the whole family-law arena.

Peter says that the Family Courts Act 2024 will require some work, before commencement, on the question of jurisdiction for divorce and separation cases, while the issue of garda vetting of legal practitioners dealing with children needs to be highlighted.

“I am also very concerned about the level of stress our colleagues are dealing with on a day-to-day basis. Helping fellow practitioners is an issue I wish to focus on. Practitioners in smaller firms don’t have the same support that larger firms have,” he comments.

While Law Society mental-health initiatives have been excellent, more needs to be done in terms of support, he says.

Since going on Council, colleagues have come to him with issues that “the very effective Law Society committee structure can deal with”. As a result, Peter wishes to highlight the significant resources available to members through that structure.

Imran Khurshid

Imran Khurshid practises in human rights and immigration law. In the course of his work, he has been subjected to intimidation from clients and anti-immigrant elements in Irish society.

Born in Pakistan, Imran has lived in Ireland since 2007, qualifying as a solicitor here.

He recently received a threatening and abusive email from a client, despite doing his utmost on behalf of that person: “I was shocked to read that email, accusing me of being unprofessional. It affected me,” he says.

Imran wishes to bring the issue of threats against the profession before Council, as he fears that recipients may develop depression and mental-health issues as a result.

“We are under pressure, highly regulated, and are trying to do our best,” he says. “If it’s affecting me, it’s affecting everyone else working in similar scenarios.”

On Council, he is also keen to bring planned changes in immigration procedures across Europe to the table.

He desires that any measures in the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum will remain in line with human-rights norms: “We request governments in the EU not to follow in the footsteps of the Far Right,” he states. 

Jonathan Lynam

The Southern Law Association’s vice-president, Jonathan Lynam, was co-opted this year to the Law Society’s Council as the bar association’s representative.

He is managing partner of Murphy Lynam, which operates from Washington Street in Cork city and which runs an office in Dublin’s Mount Street.

Originally from Mayo, Jonathan qualified in law in 2009, completing his training with a Galway firm. He graduated in recessionary times and used the opportunity to work in New York from 2009-2012, passing the New York Bar exams.

He returned to Ireland and, in 2016, took over the practice of John J Murphy & Co, which was founded by John J Murphy and his wife Clara, who still works at the firm.

Jonathan has been managing the practice for nearly eight years and works mainly in corporate and corporate-finance law.

He also serves on the Law Society’s Business Law Committee. He values the opportunity to work with highly experienced colleagues and enjoys the education and exposure he gets from being involved in meetings and committee work: “Law Society Council meetings are extremely well run, and an excellent example of corporate governance,” he says.

He also very much enjoys being part of the collegiate and social side of the legal community, networking with other Council members and top professionals in their fields.

Cristina Stamatescu

It was her background as a sole practitioner that propelled Cristina Stamatescu to stand for election to the Law Society’s Council.

Born in Romania, Cristina qualified as a solicitor in January 2013, working largely in immigration law, human rights, EU law, and judicial review.

She believes that her perspective as a practitioner not originally from Ireland, but who has experienced the challenges of navigating the Irish legal system and balancing career with family life, will prove invaluable in bringing fresh ideas to the Council table: “I would like to be a voice for people in that category,” she explains.

Support from colleagues and mentors has played an important role in Cristina’s experience and has encouraged her to take on this challenge.

“From the ‘outside’, you don’t know what you’re in for until you have a seat at the table.” she  says.

“There has been a lot of learning, which has been extremely beneficial, particularly having very welcoming and supportive colleagues on Council.

“I’m learning every day, discovering every day. It’s wonderful to see that there are so many dedicated practitioners in such a representative profession. Everyone can have differences of opinion, but everyone is able to discuss proposals in a professional way and to, at times, agree to disagree.

“It’s an amazing opportunity to have a seat at the table, to be able to have a voice in representing your profession. We are the voice of our colleagues who we are here to serve,” Cristina concludes.  

2025 nominations

In August 2025, nominations will open for 16 places in the Council elections, including one each from Connaught and Munster.

This is a unique opportunity to bring your expertise and life experience to the table, shaping policies that will have an impact on colleagues, clients, and the general public.

If running for election isn’t for you, the next best way to make an impact is by voting in September. With the convenience of online voting, it’s now easier than ever to cast your ballot and support a candidate whose vision aligns with your own.

For further details about your Council and the next election, visit lawsociety.ie/councilelections or contact solicitorservices@lawsociety. ie. Your involvement will help to make a lasting difference and will influence the future direction of the profession.

Mary Hallissey is a journalist with the Law Society Gazette.