The purpose of the Council is identified in the charter of 1852 to act “for the better rule and government of the Society, and for the better direction and management of the concerns thereof ”. The statutory functions of the Law Society, as set out in the Solicitors Acts 1954-2015, are exercised by the Council or by committees to which the Council delegates those statutory functions.

The Council represents the Law Society and its members, both in the interests of the public and of the solicitors’ profession generally. The functions performed by the Council can be divided into: 

• Representation of the members,

• Education and admission,

• Regulation and discipline, and

• Protection of clients.

Council of the Law Society

For the Council Year ending Thursday 9 November. 2024

President: Barry MacCarthy 

Senior vice-president: Eamon Harrington

Junior vice-president: Martin Lawlor

Council members

Justine Carty, Niamh Counihan, Brendan Cunningham, Joan Doran, Paul Egan SC, Stuart Gilhooly SC, Dónal Hamilton, Richard Hammond SC, Bill Holohan SC, Siún Hurley, Áine Hynes SC, Paul Keane, Graham Kenny, Aidan Leahy, Gary Lee, Rosemarie Loftus, Susan Martin, Sonia McEntee, Kate McKenna, Brian McMullin, Fiona McNulty, Michele O’Boyle SC, Hilary O’Connor, Tony O’Sullivan, Valerie Peart, Brendan J Twomey, Keith Walsh SC

Past-presidents: Maura Derivan, Michelle Ní Longáin SC

Provincial delegates: Garry Clarke (Ulster), David Higgins (Connaught), Sonya M Lanigan (Leinster), Dr Shane McCarthy (Munster)

Dublin Solicitors Bar Association representatives:: Matthew Kenny, Avril Mangan, Paul Ryan

Southern Law Association representatives (from 29 November 2023): Robert Baker, Joan Byrne, John Fuller, Dermot Kelly, Veronica Neville

Law Society of Northern Ireland representatives: Brian Archer, Colin Mitchell, Brigid Napier, Darren Toombs, Rowan White