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Going the extra mile

An integral part of the Law Society’s work is to use our position to build relationships with Government and other key stakeholders, and to showcase the expertise of the profession in pursuit of improvements to justice and law reform, writes Eamon Harrington.

In that vein, I was pleased to recently lead a delegation to meet Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan. We heard about his intentions for the justice portfolio, discussed the Law Society’s policy priorities, and highlighted our support for justice-related commitments contained in the Programme for Government.

The minister emphasised his ambition for individuals engaging with the justice system to have a high-quality experience, regardless of the outcome of their matter.

This speaks to the heart of the priorities that form part of the Law Society’s ongoing advocacy efforts.

Building on needs

We discussed investment in the courts system, ensuring that the courts are modernised and resourced to harness the benefits of technology, and are more focused on the needs of victims and other court users.

Once implemented, the Family Courts Act 2024 holds great potential for delivering a more positive experience for children and families involved in legal proceedings.

The Law Society signalled its commitment to contributing to the implementation plan, while also highlighting the need for more immediate steps to be taken to improve the experience of families that have matters before the courts.

We also took the opportunity to highlight the growing importance of mediation and other means of alternative dispute resolution (ADR).

As I know from my own experience, ADR can provide a far more efficient and cost-effective solution to many disputes that end up before the courts, and reduce the burden on the already overstretched courts system.

Building oases

As I’ve mentioned previously, looking into ways to overcome the challenges faced by smaller practices is a high priority for me this year. These pressures – along with the risk of ‘legal deserts’ emerging in parts of the country – were also discussed with the minister.

It’s clear to us all that community-based legal practices provide an essential service, particularly in regional areas.

Their challenges can be alleviated to some degree by immediate action being taken across multiple areas, including investment in legal aid, expanding training opportunities in local communities, and access to small-business supports.

I look forward, together with Law Society colleagues, to continuing positive engagement with the minister and his team over the weeks and months ahead.

Building speed

The relationships we build with our colleagues is also important, and there’s no better opportunity than the Calcutta Run to cement and create new friendships across all branches of the profession, coming together to raise money for good causes.

On a recent visit to India with The Hope Foundation, I saw first-hand the much-needed work made possible by your fundraising.

This includes providing education for children of all ages. Many of these children have experienced homelessness or live in severely deprived areas and, without funding for schools, would not have the opportunity for education.

Another initiative is the Hope Café, where staff train for a career in nutrition and hospitality. Not least is the Hope Hospital, which provides desperately needed healthcare services to people who otherwise would not be able to afford it.

Our fundraising target for 2025 is at least €350,000 for Dublin Simon Community and The Hope Foundation. Registration is now open for the Dublin Run on Saturday 24 May. Additional events include the Calcutta Run in Cork and Galway on 25 May, as well as tag rugby, golf and tennis.

These charities really need our support, so let’s go the extra mile this year. Visit www.calcuttarun.com to get started. See you there!

Eamon Harrington is President of the Law Society