With the Well Within the Law festival returning to Blackhall Place on 3 September, solicitors are invited to take a moment of pause and connect with their colleagues, their purpose, and the bigger picture.

This year’s theme, ‘This is Absurd’, explores the contradictions that legal professionals often carry between performance and purpose, tradition and change, responsibility and wellbeing. 

• RSVP by 27 August

Connection across sectors

Alongside its exploration of absurdity and the cultural shifts needed for a more sustainable legal profession, the festival also offers a valuable opportunity to connect with both familiar faces and new ones. It’s about creating space for genuine connection through shared experiences - conversation, food, ideas, and support. No matter your practice area, this is a space to come together.

Programme

The evening programme provides an opportunity to explore together how things might be different and is presented in four distinct ‘acts’:

1. Opening the evening features a discussion featuring acclaimed authors Claire Keegan and Kevin Barry, alongside performer and leadership development specialist Daren Jacobs.
2. Act two brings together Mr Justice David Barniville and solicitor and author Rosemary Hennigan to consider how we might shape a legal system where professionals can think clearly, act with integrity, and avoid burnout.
3. Tom Noonan (RDJ) and Stephen Collins (IHREC) join a conversation focused on the skills and capacities needed to drive meaningful change within the profession.
4. The final act reflects on the cultural shifts required to make that change stick, before wrapping up with music and refreshments in the Vanilla Café. 

To learn more and explore the exciting voices at this year's festival, meet our speakers.

Share your talents!

We’re inviting colleagues to take part in the evening entertainment following the main programme. Do you have a talent you could share? Whether you sing, play an instrument, recite poetry, or have another creative talent, we’d love for you to be part of our relaxed wind-down in the Vanilla Café. It’s a great opportunity to share your passion and connect with others in a fun, informal setting.

If you’re interested in participating, please get in touch with the Law Society’s Psychological Services team at wwtlfestival@lawsociety.ie.