Our Consultations

We value the views of our stakeholders. Our consultations are listed here, along with written submissions received to consultations which are now closed. For more details and to find out how to participate, click to expand the links below.

Open Consultations

Report on the Creation of a New Profession of Conveyancer

The Legal Services Regulatory Authority invites interested parties to make written submissions ahead of its report for the Minister for Justice in relation to the creation of a new profession of conveyancer in Ireland.

Section 34(1)(c) of the Legal Services Regulation Act 2015 states that the Authority shall furnish a report to the Minister for Justice in relation to the creation of a new profession of conveyancer.

In March 2021, in accordance with section 34(5)(a) of the Act, the Minister gave notice in writing to the Authority requesting that a report on the creation of a new profession of conveyancer be prepared and furnished by the Authority within a period of eighteen months.

Consultation Process

The Authority is required under section 34(1)(i) to carry out an appropriate consultation process prior to furnishing its report to the Minister. This invitation for written submissions is among a number of phased consultation processes which the Authority intends to conduct in preparing this report to the Minister.

Some suggested topics for inclusion in your submission are included in the Consultation Notice – see link below. These are not exhaustive and any submissions relevant to the terms of reference are welcome.

For full details see the Consultation Notice, available here.

The closing date for receipt of written submissions is 6 January 2022.

Review of Legal Services Regulation Act 2015

The Legal Services Regulatory Authority invites written submissions as part of a public consultation prior to a report to the Houses of the Oireachtas on the operation of the Legal Services Regulation Act 2015.

Under section 6 of the Legal Services Regulation Act 2015 the Authority is obliged to periodically conduct a review of the operation of the Act. Following a consultation process, the Authority is required to make a report of its findings and conclusions to each House of the Oireachtas, including such recommendations (if any) to the Minister resulting from that review as it considers appropriate.

The Authority is currently undertaking it second review under section 6 of the Act.

For full details see the Consultation Notice, available here.

The closing date for receipt of submissions is 30 September 2021.

Closed Consultations

13 May 2021 - Public Consultation: Report on Barriers for Early Career Solicitors and Barristers

The LSRA invites written submissions as part of a public consultation prior to a report to the Minister for Justice in relation to the economic and other barriers for early career solicitors and barristers.

The Authority is conducting this public consultation under section 34(1)(d) of the Legal Services Regulation Act 2015. The consultation is based on a request from the Minister for Justice for the Authority to:

“Consider the economic and other barriers faced by young barristers and solicitors following their qualification from the King’s Inns and Law Society respectively and to submit a report with recommendations for her consideration.”

The Minister has stated that this research is part of her plan to increase diversity across the justice sector including the legal profession.

As part of this research, the LSRA will also conduct online surveys of trainee and early career solicitors and barristers.

For full details see the Consultation Notice, available here.

The closing date for receipt of submissions is 14 July 2021.

16 December 2020 - Consultation on Annual Report 2020 on Admissions Policies of Legal Professions

The Authority invites written submissions in relation to the admission policies of the legal professions, prior to preparing an annual report to the Minister for Justice as required under section 33 of the Legal Services Regulation Act 2015.

The Consultation Notice is available here.

The closing date for receipt of submissions is Friday 12 February 2021.

Status Update

The LSRA’s report was published on 30 June 2021 and is available to download on the link below.

Pathways to the Professions 2020: Annual Report on Admission Policies of the Legal Professions

15 October 2020 - Consultation on draft Advertising Regulations for legal practitioners

The Authority invites practising barristers who are not members of the Law Library to submit their views on new draft Advertising Regulations for legal practitioners.

The invitation is part of a month long consultation by the LSRA to seek the views of those who will be subject to the Advertising Regulations, which are required in order for Ireland to comply with European Union law.

The consultation is open until 16 November 2020. For more details, see the Consultation Notice.

Status Update

The Advertising Regulations came into operation in December 2020.

S.I. No. 644 of 2020 – Legal Services Regulation Act 2015 (Advertising) Regulations 2020

The press release is available here.

13 February 2020 - Public Consultation: Report on Unification of the Solicitors’ and Barristers’ Professions

The Authority invites written submissions from members of the public and any other interested party as part of a public consultation prior to a report to the Minister for Justice in relation to question of unification of the solicitors’ profession and the barristers’ profession.

The closing date for receipt of submissions is 9 June 2020.

The Public Consultation Notice can be found here:Section 34 Unification Public Consultation Notice

Note: The LSRA’s consultation on unification opened on 13 February 2020. The original deadline for written submissions was 12 May 2020. Due to the Covid-19 crisis, the deadline was extended to 9 June 2020. The original consultation notice is available here.

Status Update

The LSRA submitted its report to the Minister for Justice in September 2020. The report was published on 19 November 2020.

Greater than the Sum of Its Parts? Consideration of Unification of the Solicitors’ Profession and Barristers’ is available here .

The press release is available here.

19 December 2019 - Public Consultation: Annual Report on Admission Policies of the Legal Professions

The closing date for receipt of submissions is 3 February 2020.

The detailed Consultation Notice can be found here – Section 33 Public Consultation Notice

Status Update:

This consultation is now closed.

The LSRA’s report to the Minister has been laid before the Oireachtas.

Pathways to the Professions is available here.

16 August 2019 - Public Consultation: Advertising Regulations

The Authority invites written submissions as part of a public consultation prior to the making and issuing of regulations in relation to the advertising of legal services under section 218 of the Legal Services Regulation Act 2015.

The closing date for submissions has been extended to 29 February 2020.

The detailed Consultation Notice can be found here: Section 218 Advertising Regulations Public Consultation Notice

This Consultation is now closed.

Status Update:

The LSRA is currently working on regulations.

Note: The LSRA’s consultation on the section 218 advertising regulations began on 16 August 2019.

The deadline for receipt of written submissions was originally1 November 2019. This was extended to 29 February 2020.

The original Consultation Notice issued on 16 August 2019 is available here.

12 July 2019 - Further Public Consultation on the Education and Training of Legal Practitioners

The Authority invites written submissions from members of the public and any other interested party in relation to the proposals put forward in the Section 34 Hook Tangaza report or on any relevant aspect of the education and training arrangements in the State for legal practitioners.

The detailed Public Consultation Notice can be found here – Section 34 Notice of Further Consultation.

Status Update

This public consultation is now closed.

The Authority submitted its report to the Minister for Justice in September 2020. The report was published on 19 November 2020.

Setting Standards: Legal Practitioner Education and Training is available here.

The press release is available here.

6 June 2018 - Public Consultation: Report on operation of Legal Services Regulation Act

The detailed Public Consultation Notice can be found here – Section 6 Notice of Consultation

Status Update

This public consultation closed on 27 July 2018.

The Authority submitted a report to the Dáil and Seanad in March 2019.

Review of the Operation of the Legal Services Regulation Act, 2015 (March 2019) is available here.

3 May 2017 - Public Consultation on Multi-Disciplinary Practices

The Authority submitted its Initial Report to the Minister for Justice on 31 March 2017 under section 119(1) of the Act in respect of the establishment, regulation, monitoring, operation and impact of multi-disciplinary practices in the State.

Arising from that Initial Report, the Authority sought submissions on the establishment, regulation, monitoring, operation and impact of multi-disciplinary practices in the State. The Consultation ran from 3 May 2017 to 6 June 2017.

Status Update

That public consultation was closed on 16 June 2017 and the Authority submitted a Further Report to the Minister for Justice on 29 September 2017

Report on Multi-Disciplinary Practices: Report to Minister for Justice & Equality (Further Report 29th September 2017) is available here.

Report on Multi-Disciplinary Practices: Report to Minister for Justice & Equality (Initial Report 31st March 2017) is available here.

6 April 2017 - Public Consultation: Report on Matters Relating to Barristers

Status Update

A report by the Authority was submitted to the Minister for Justice and Equality in September 2017.

Certain Issues Relating to Barristers: Report to the Minister for Justice & Equality (29 September 2017) is available here.

24 February 2017 - Public Consultation: Report on Legal Partnerships

The Authority invited written submissions prior to Report to the Minister for Justice into the Regulation, Monitoring and Operation of Legal Partnerships.

This public consultation on legal partnerships (under Section 118 of the Legal Services Regulation Act, 2015) is now closed.

Status Update

The Authority presented a report on Legal Partnerships to the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice on 31 March, 2017.

This report was laid before the Oireachtas by the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Ms Frances Fitzgerald TD on 28 April, 2017 and can be found in the Reports section of the website.

A further Interim Report on the subject of Legal Partnerships was submitted to the Minister for Justice on 31 July, 2017. This report is also in the Reports section.

The LSRA is working with a view to introducing the Framework for Legal Partnerships in the near future.

Submissions Received

2021 - Admission Polices of Legal Professions

Submissions received under S33 Consultation – Annual Report 2020 on Admission Policies of Legal Professions

Organisations:

Bar of Ireland S33 Admission Policies Submission

Competition and Consumer Protection Commission 33 Admission Policies Submission

Dublin City University School of Law and Government 33 Admission Policies Submission

Dublin Solicitors’ Bar Association 33 Admission Policies Submission

Faculty of Notaries Public in Ireland 33 Admission Policies Submission

Honorable Society of King’s Inns 33 Admission Policies Submission

Irish Institute of Legal Executives 33 Admission Policies Submission

Irish Women Lawyers Association 33 Admission Policies Submission

Law Society of Ireland 33 Admission Policies Submission

Legal Aid Board 33 Admission Policies Submission

Southern Law Association 33 Admission Policies Submission

SOLAS 33 Admission Policies Submission

University College Dublin Sutherland School of Law 33 Admission Policies Submission

2020 - Unification of the Professions

Submissions received under S34 Consultation – Consideration of Unification of the Professions

Organisations:

Association of Chartered Certified Accountants S34 Unification Submission

Association of Judges in Ireland S34 Unification Submission

Bar of Ireland S34 Unification Submission

Department of Education and Skills S34 Unification Submission

Dublin City Council Law Department S34 Unification Submission

DCU School of Law and Government S34 Unification Submission

Dublin Solicitors’ Bar Association S34 Unification Submission

Enterprise Ireland S34 Unification Submission

Honorable Society of King’s Inns S34 Unification Submission

Law Society of Ireland S34 Unification Submission

Individuals:

William Aylmer S34 Unification Submission

James Dennison S34 Unification Submission

Mark Elliot S34 Unification Submission

Andrew McKeown BL S34 Unification Submission

Danny Morrissey S34 Unification Submission

Liam Nolan BL S34 Unification Submission

Hazel Ann Smyth BL S34 Unification Submission

Norman Spicer S34 Unification Submission

Kieron Wood BL S34 Unification Submission

2019 - Legal Practitioner Education and Training (Section 34) Report II

In July 2019 the LSRA invited written submissions on the proposals in its September 2018 report to the Minister for Justice and Equality on the education and training of legal practitioners. This report was required under section 34(1)(a) of the Legal Services Regulation Act 2015.

The report by the Authority included a research report prepared by an external expert team which set out 14 proposals for reform of the education and training of legal practitioners in Ireland. The Authority undertook a further period of consultation with both the providers and users of legal services to explore the possible impact of the proposals. The following submissions were received:

Organisations

Arthur Cox – S34 Further Consultation

Association of Judges in Ireland – S34 Further Consultation

A&L Goodbody – S34 Further Consultation

Construction Bar Association – S34 Further Consultation

Competition and Consumer Protection Commission – S34 Further Consultation

Criminal Law Committee, Law Society of Ireland – S34 Further Consultation

DCU School of Law and Government – S34 Further Consultation

Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation – S34 Further Consultation

Employment Bar Association – S34 Further Consultation

Enterprise Ireland – S34 Further Consultation

Galway Mayo Institute of Technology – S34 Further Consultation

IBEC- S34 Further Consultation

Irish Institue of Legal Executives – S34 Further Consultation

Honorable Society of King’s Inns – S34 Further Consultation

LawSchool.ie – S34 Further Consultation

Legal Aid Board – S34 Further Consultation

Matheson – S34 Further Consultation

Mayo Solicitors Bar Association – S34 Further Consultation

McCann Fitzgerald – S34 Further Consultation

Michael J Staines – S34 Further Consultation

National Competitiveness Council – S34 Further Consultation

P O’Connor Solicitors – S34 Further Consultation

Quality and Qualifications Ireland – S34 Further Consultation

Southern Law Association – S34 Further Consultation

TU Dublin – S34 Further Consultation

TCD Law School – S34 Further Consultation

UCD School of Law – S34 Further Consultation

Wexford Solicitors Association – S34 Further Consultation

Individuals

Chris Mills BL – S34 Further Consultation

Individual Barrister – S34 Further Consultation

2019 - Annual Report on Admissions Policies (Section 33)

Submissions received under consultation on Annual Report on Admission Policies of Legal Professions 2019, under section 33 of the Legal Services Regulation Act 2015

An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta & Gaelscolaíochta Section 33 Submission – Annual Report 2019

An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta & Gaelscolaíochta Section 33 Submission – Annual Report 2019 (English)

Association of Judges of Ireland Section 33 Submssion – Annual Report 2019

Arthur Cox Section 33 Submission – Annual Report 2019

A & L Goodbody Section 33 Submission – Annual Report 2019

Ballymun Community Law Centre Section 33 Submission – Annual Report 2019

Bar of Ireland Section 33 Submission – Annual Report 2019

Dublin City University School of Law and Government Section 33 Submission – Annual Report 2019

Ibec Section 33 Submission – Annual Report 2019

Irish Institute of Legal Executives Section 33 Submission – Annual Report 2019

Higher Education Authority Section 33 Submission – Annual Report 2019

Honorable Society of King’s Inns Section 33 Submission – Annual Report 2019