Nominations for the Law Society Council will be made online for the first time this year.

Council membership provides any solicitor holding current Law Society membership with the opportunity to have an important role in shaping and developing the future of the profession.

Nominations will open on 1 September and close on 25 September 2023.

Those interested need to be nominated by two other Law Society members – and neither of these can be an existing Council member.

Council members are elected for a two-year term.

Solicitor number and password

As the nomination process is online, those putting themselves forward or supporting a colleague’s nomination will need to login with their solicitor number and password.

Voting this year will also take place by means of e-voting through the Law Society’s website, so you should make sure you know your solicitor number and password ahead of time.

The Council’s purpose is to act “for the better rule and government of the Society, and for the better direction and management of the concerns thereof”.

Diversity

Comprising 31 elected members, four provincial delegates and 13 nominated members, the Council represents the Law Society and its members both in the interests of the public and of the solicitors’ profession generally.

At least eight meetings are held annually, on a hybrid basis, to discuss a variety of matters – including reports from committees, assigning working groups and task forces, and selecting Society representatives.

The greater the diversity of membership across the different areas of law, experience, geographic location and practice type, the more representative the Council will be.

Key Council election dates

The key upcoming dates for nominations and voting are:

• 1 September: nominations open online on lawsociety.ie,
• 25 September: nominations close at 5pm,
• 12 October: closing date for sending in canvassing profile (up to 500 words),
• 20 October: voting opens – login to lawsociety.ie to access secure e-voting system,
• 2 November: voting closes at 5pm,
• 9 November: election results at AGM.

Find out more about the Council on the Law Society’s website.

If you have a query about the election, please contact councilelections@lawsociety.ie.

If you have any website login queries, contact webmaster@lawsociety.ie.