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Body set up to implement ‘barriers’ report

The Minister for Justice has published a plan to implement recommendations aimed at addressing barriers to entry into the legal profession, as well as increasing diversity in the profession.

The 32 recommendations were contained in the Breaking Down Barriers report, published by the Legal Services Regulatory Authority (LSRA) last month.

Minister Helen McEntee has asked the LSRA to provide progress reports to the Department of Justice on the plan every six months.

Representatives

The LSRA chief executive Dr Brian Doherty will lead the implementation process, and will also chair the Barriers Implementation Working Group.

Relevant professional bodies will be invited to nominate representatives to sit on the working group, which will hold quarterly progress update meetings with the Law Society of Ireland, the Honourable Society of King’s Inns, and the Bar of Ireland.

“Any person who has the skills and determination to pursue a career in the legal professions should be empowered to do so, irrespective of their social or economic background, gender, ethnicity or where they are from,” said the minister.

Education and training

The minister added that the LSRA had set up a committee on education and training to prepare for the establishment of the Legal Practitioners Education and Training Committee (LPET).

The LPET will be involved in any recommendations linked to legal professional education and training.

The establishment of the LPET was recommended in a 2020 report on the issue, and will require primary legislation.

“The recommendations made in the Breaking Down Barriers report represent an important reform initiative, which will build upon measures introduced in recent years by key stakeholders – including the professional bodies for solicitors and barristers,” said Dr Doherty.