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Solicitors urged to help maintain public trust in law

The chief executive of the Courts Service has told newly qualified solicitors that they have an important role to play in maintaining public trust in the legal system. 

Angela Denning was speaking at a parchment ceremony in Blackhall Place (13 February), where more than 50 graduates were welcomed into the profession. 

President of the Law Society of Ireland Eamon Harrington, in his first parchment ceremony since taking up the role, told the new solicitors that the profession was rewarding, but could also be tough. 

While being a solicitor was becoming ever-more demanding, “there is no more interesting job,” he told the graduates. 

The president also encouraged the new solicitors to stay involved with the Law Society. 

Values 

Courts Service chief executive Angela Denning said that the values of the civil and public service – respect, integrity, impartiality, fairness, equality, and independence – would resonate with solicitors throughout their careers. 

“They must be the foundation stones upon which you build your future practice,” she stated. 

Denning told the future solicitors that their time in the courts would be exciting, difficult, and rewarding – but never boring or dull. 

She told the event that, although trust in the courts and legal system was high in Ireland, this was “no longer a given”, citing recent surveys showing “plummeting” trust in many public institutions. 

She said that we were at a “tipping point”, where leaders of Government, business, NGOs, politicians, and public-opinion formers – including solicitors – had a responsibility to be part of the solution. 

“We have to utilise local sources of trust,” she stated, adding that this included legal advisers. 

‘Break the cycle’ 

The current experience of court users was often one that is marked by upset and frustration, Denning said, citing costs, delays, the use of ‘legalese’, and the reliance on paper. 

This was in part due to a situation that had evolved over hundreds of years around the needs of the system itself – staff, judges, and practitioners – rather than the needs of the people who used the system 

Denning told the event that the Courts Service was seeking to break this cycle with a significant programme of reform. 

She added, however, that achieving a more effective system, and maintaining trust in that system, required all the elements within it working together in common purpose 

“You are the gateway to access to justice and social inclusion, and you have the privilege of protecting and nurturing the shared values that we hold dear as a society, and constitutional democracy,” the Courts Service chief executive told the new solicitors. 

‘Remain flexible’ 

High Court judge Ms Justice Eileen Creedon also addressed the graduates, telling them of their duty to uphold the rule of law, promote access to justice, and serve the public interest.  

She told the new solicitors that they would have the opportunity to “effect positive change in the lives of others”.  

The judge urged the graduates to remain flexible and open to opportunities, adding that this was more important than ever as new areas of law opened.  

She said the variety of work available was one of the attractions of the profession. 

The following prizes were also presented at the ceremony: 

• Rory O’Donnell Prize, Commercial and Complex Property Transaction on the 2021 Professional Practice Course Part 2 (2023), sponsor Eversheds Sutherland LLP: Megan Delaney,
• Criminal Law Prize (2022 Final Examination – First Part): Aoibhinn Farrell,
• Overend Prize-Winner Best overall marks (2023 Final Examination – First Part): Sarah Gibbons,
• Law of Contract (2023 Final Examination – First Part): Sarah Gibbons,
• Law of Tort (2023 Final Examination – First Part): Gareth McGovern,
• Property Law Prize (2023 Final Examination – First Part): Gareth McGovern,
• European Union Law Prize (2023 Final Examination – First Part): Sean Boyle,
• Constitutional Law Prize (2023 Final Examination – First Part): Adam Cullen,
• Law of Tort (2022 Final Examination – First Part): Tom May,
• Constitutional Law Prize (2022 Final Examination – First Part): Eoin Forde, and
• Law Society Litigation Prize (Professional Practice Course 2021): David Panter.