Law Society in mourning for Attracta O’Regan RIP

The Law Society has been informed of the sad passing of Attracta O’Regan, RIP (2 July).

Attracta was a solicitor and Head of Law Society Professional Training (LSPT) and Law Society Skillnet, serving in the role for 18 years.

In addition, she was a member of the EU Expert Group on European Judicial Training, and a Rule of Law Advisor to the CCBE (the Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe).

Attracta was responsible for the direction and management of professional training to the Law Society of Ireland’s 12,000 solicitor members through Law Society Professional Training, Law Society Skillnet, and Law Society Finuas Network.

‘Sadness and shock’

The Director of Education T P Kennedy said today (3 July) that he shared the news of the loss of Attracta as a good friend and valued colleague “with deep sadness and shock”.

Attracta O’Regan joined Blackhall Place in 2005, initially as the course leader for the part- time PPC, which was offered at the time to cater for the surge in trainee numbers.

“She took on the role with efficiency and humanity and put together a strong team, many of whom continued to work with her until very recently,” Kennedy said.

For more than 15 years, Attracta headed up the continuing legal education team and made a major contribution to solicitor education in Ireland.

Innovator

“Attracta was an innovator. In this vein, she devised new education formats to reach out to as many solicitors as possible – through the regional cluster events and an incredible variety of conferences, master classes and seminars.

“Her strength in building relationships can be seen in the extent of partner organisations that LSPT worked with, both in Ireland and throughout the world – from the Institute of Engineers all the way to the European Commission,” said T P Kennedy.

A major achievement was the establishment of the Skillnet training network and securing funding for new forms of training and education.

The Law Society Skillnet offering was held up nationally as a pattern for other organisations to follow, T P Kennedy said.

“I’ve worked closely with Attracta for almost two decades and will miss her so much,” he said.

“She was an incredibly positive force of nature. She had so much more that she wanted to do. It’s very difficult to refer to Attracta in the past tense as she was so intensely alive. She very bravely fought and almost triumphed over a cruel illness. She valued people and took an interest in everyone she met.”

Great legacy

“She leaves us a great legacy but that’s small consolation for her absence. Our sadness is small compared to that of Ultan, her beloved children and grandchildren,” the director of education said.

Attracta qualified as a barrister in 1995, transferring to become a solicitor in 2008, and held a post-graduate Certificate in Learning Teaching and Assessment.

She established an early reputation, particularly in insurance law, where she wrote the leading text in that field. She always continued to learn, embarking on doctoral studies over the past year.

She was the founding editor of the Irish Insurance Law Review, published by Roundhall Sweet & Maxwell; the author of Insurance Law in Ireland (by the same publisher), and co-author of Criminal Litigation, published by Oxford University Press.

Book of condolences

Attracta O’Regan was also the founder of Cycle4CrohnsColitis – speaking openly about her diagnosis with Crohn’s Colitis in recent years.

Through Cycle4CrohnsColitis she carried out fundraising in order to establish a Fellowship for the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland to provide a doctor for the day-to-day patient support and care for survivors of Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis.

In her honour, flags at Blackhall Place will be flown at half-mast and a book of condolences will be opened.

The thoughts and prayers of all at the Law Society are with Attracta’s husband Ultan, their children Ian, Yvonne, Alecia and Cúán, grandchildren, extended family members and friends.

Funeral arrangements

Reposing at her home on Tuesday, 4 July, from 6pm to 8pm. Removal to St Fintan’s Church, Sutton, on Wednesday morning for 11am Funeral Mass, followed by burial in St Fintan’s Cemetery, Sutton. Family flowers only. Donations, if desired, to the Irish Cancer Society or Crohn's and Colitis Ireland.

A live stream of Attracta’s Funeral Mass can be viewed on the following link:

https://www.mcnmedia.tv/camera/st-fintans-parish-church-sutton-dublin

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a h-anam dílis.