Future is bright for Irish solicitors, says Law Society president

The next generation of Irish solicitors have been told their future is bright, following a sustained period of economic uncertainty and a shortage of employment opportunities.

At a graduation ceremony in the Law Society premises in Dublin last night, newly-qualified solicitors were told of a changing professional environment and of more prosperous times ahead.

"You are qualifying at a very good time as there does seem to be work again for all solicitors in this country," the society's president Simon Murphy said.

Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy of the High Court noted that "following a number of years through which solicitors were faced with grave difficulties due to the financial and economic circumstances of the country, the future for each of you . . . is now bright".

A total of 45 newly-qualified members received parchments and were admitted to the Roll of Solicitors.

Guest speaker, Garda Commissioner Nóirín O’Sullivan, said that as with Irish policing, the legal establishment was undergoing change.

"Thankfully, like An Garda Síochána, your numbers are growing," she said.

Mr Justice McCarthy said there had been much discussion on the engagement of the Law Society and the Bar Council with the Government on the development of the Legal Services Bill.

He said he was glad some of the criticisms aired were heard and accepted, and said it was the norm for stakeholders to be involved in debate.

“I think it is fair to stress that there was no question of privileged access in that particular context,” he said.

“Your profession has long been the subject of extensive regulation, especially in respect of financial affairs, and your society has enforced these with the utmost rigour and success.”

However, he said, regulation was secondary to the role of ethos, tradition and history.

The professional and collegial interaction of lawyers was central to maintaining standards, he said.