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A big job of work

A new year always brings change and, for me, that is the privilege of undertaking a 12-month term as President of the Law Society, writes Eamon Harrington.

I look forward to working on your behalf over the next year to improve the justice and legal system in this country, as well as ensure that the Law Society does everything in its power to help the solicitors’ profession thrive.

With that in mind, the Law Society was busy seeking commitment from political parties during the recent general-election campaign on four key priority areas to benefit the justice system, legal sector, and wider public.

A lot done

Now we have a new Taoiseach and Cabinet in place, and it is gratifying to see the inclusion of some of the Law Society’s access-to-justice and law-reform priorities in the Government’s five-year programme.

These include investing in the courts system, creating a solicitors’ portal for enduring-power-of-attorney applications, reforming property law, and promoting diversity in the profession.

Now the work truly begins in continuing to engage with the relevant Oireachtas representatives and other key stakeholders to ensure these much-needed commitments are realised and to help improve the accessibility, efficiency, and fairness of the Irish legal system in the coming years.

Along with all in the Law Society, as your representative, I will be working actively on pursuing these improvements, while also following up on other outstanding issues, like the civil legal-aid review, the establishment of the Mediation Council of Ireland, and the promotion of alternative-dispute-resolution options.

More to do

Another significant issue is that many smaller practices are struggling across the country. One significant example of this challenge is that 11 counties did not have a trainee last year.

This is a worrying trend for many communities, where reduced availability of solicitors could seriously affect access to justice.

I want to reassure colleagues in smaller and sole practices that looking into ways to overcome your challenges in terms of business viability and succession is also a high priority for me this year.

We all agree that widening access to legal education is important, so we can have a more inclusive and diverse profession that more closely represents our changing society.

While the profession is changing, we need new initiatives – including financial supports and new routes to legal qualifications – to encourage more people to become a solicitor, particularly from underrepresented backgrounds.

You may recall the new programme I mentioned in my December bulletin about the 2025 practising certificate (PC) renewal. A portion of your PC fee will contribute to the creation of the ‘Professional Access Programme’, which aims to reduce barriers for those seeking to enter, return to, or progress within the solicitors’ profession.

Looking forward

In December, I was delighted to announce that the 2024 Calcutta Run had raised an impressive €325,000, and I presented two cheques for €160,000 to Dublin Simon Community and the Hope Foundation, who provide services for those facing homelessness in Dublin and Kolkata.

A further €5,000 was raised for Hope and Share by the Cork Calcutta Run, managed by the Southern Law Association.

This achievement is a direct reflection of the generosity and commitment of all who supported this worthy event.

So, whether your new year’s resolution is to be more active or just keep in touch with your legal colleagues, why not keep Saturday 24 May free to join me for the next Calcutta Run, and support your wellbeing, as well as those less fortunate.

Eamon Harrington is President of the Law Society.