News

The number of in-house solicitors in Ireland is on the rise, due to the specialised nature of in-house legal roles that support business growth. In the latest Gazette, Law Society Director General Mark Garrett crunches the numbers on the Law Society’s in-house sector at year-end 2024.

• Read the Gazette article: In-House In Demand

The Office of the Planning Regulator (OPR) has published the seventh edition of the ‘Learning from Litigation’ bulletin. This bulletin has been created to highlight and share key insights from the evolving landscape of planning and environmental case law. It offers an overview of significant court decisions, legal precedents, and emerging trends in planning.

• Access the Learning from Litigation Bulletin

The European Data Protection Board has published its opinion on the processing of personal data in the context of AI models. Elaine Morrissey analyses the details for the April 2025 Gazette.

• Read the article: Two Can Keep a Secret

Resources

Applications for the Women in Leadership Mentoring Programme are now open. Developed in collaboration with Law Society Skillnet, this initiative is designed to empower women solicitors, helping them grow both personally and professionally while advancing their careers to senior levels. Solicitors from across the profession, including in-house practitioners, are invited to apply for the scheme and become a mentor or mentee.

• Learn more about the Women in Leadership Mentoring Programme

Training

The Public Sector Careers Symposium takes place in the Law Society on 21 May. This event is organised by Law Society Professional Training in collaboration with the In-house and Public Sector Committee and will be of interest whether you’re already working in the public sector and seeking to further your career, or considering a change. We’ll be exploring job profiles, career development and progression, succeeding in competency-based recruitment and much more.

Our speakers and expert panel include:

• Judge Peter White (Panel Chair);
• Catherine Pierse, Director of Public Prosecutions ;
• Fiona Woodyatt, Deputy Assistant Chief State Solicitor;
• Kelleher Margaret, Parliamentary Counsel, Office of the Attorney General;
• Cathal Ryan, Deputy Commissioner, Data Protection Commission;
• Alison Hand, Head of Learning and Development Solutions, Carr Communications; and
• Sinéad Coleman, Head of Talent Acquisition for the public service, public jobs.

To learn more or to book your place, see Public Sector Careers Symposium.

Another training event to note is the “Regulation Matters: Ethics and the In-house Lawyer” lunchtime webinar, taking place on 10 June 2025. This one-hour webinar will examine the ethics framework in Ireland and the particular challenges facing the in-house lawyer. We will also look at perspectives from the UK and consider the tools and resources that are currently available in Ireland. Attendees will benefit from the insights of ethical experts and commentators from Ireland and the UK, including Dr Jim Baxter (IDEA Centre Professional Ethics Consultancy Team Leader, University of Leeds) and Ciarán Fenton (consultant). For more details and to book your place, see Ethics and the In-house Lawyer.

Social Media

In-house solicitors can connect and network with colleagues across organisations using a private LinkedIn group.

• Access the In-House LinkedIn Group

About the In-House and Public Sector Committee

The In-House and Public Sector Committee aims to represent the views and promote the interests of this segment of the profession, while helping to support the Law Society in the exercise of its representative, educational and regulatory roles as they relate to in-house solicitors in the private and public sectors.

• Log in to find out about the In-House and Public Sector Committee.