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.
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Open Consultations
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 30 June 2021.
Closed Consultations
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 UpdateThe LSRA’s report will be submitted to the Minister no later than 30 April 2021.
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 UpdateThe 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.
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 UpdateThe 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 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 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.
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.
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 UpdateThis 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.
The detailed Public Consultation Notice can be found here – Section 6 Notice of Consultation
Status UpdateThis 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.
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 UpdateThat 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.
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.
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 UpdateThe 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
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
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
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
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
Law Society of Ireland Section 33 Submission – Annual Report 2019
- Law Society of Ireland Cover Letter
- Law Society of Ireland Accompanying Document 1 – Crowe Report
- Law Society of Ireland Accompanying Document 2 – Law Society Gazette 2019
- Law Society of Ireland Accompanying Document 3 – Law Society Gazette 2020
Mediators’ Institute of Ireland Section 33 Submission – Annual Report 2019
UCD Sutherland School of Law Section 33 Submission – Annual Report 2019
Prof Shane Kilcommins Section 33 Submission – Annual Report 2019
Individual Barrister Section 33 Submission – Annual Report 2019
Submissions received under section 6 consultation on Review of the Operation of the Legal Services Regulation Act, 2015
Association of Judges Section 6 Review Submission
Irish Institute of Legal Executives (IILEX) Section 6 Review Submission
Bar of Ireland Section 6 Review Submission
Law Society of Ireland Section 6 Review Submission
Law Society Supplemental Section 6 Review Submission
Honorable Society of King’s Inns Section 6 Review Submission
Honorable Society of King’s Inns supplemental Section 6 Review Submission
Alliance for Insurance Reform Section 6 Review Submission
Competition and Consumer Protection Commission Section 6 Review Submission
Chief State Solicitor’s Office Section 6 Review Submission
ISME Section 6 Review Submission
Bar of Northern Ireland Section 6 Review Submission
UCD Section 6 Review Submission
State Claims Agency Section 6 Review Submission
Dublin Solicitors‘ Bar Association Section 6 Review Submission
Submissions received under S34 Consultation – Education and Training of Legal Professionals
S34 Submission – Honorable Society of King’s Inns
S34 Submission – Law Society of Ireland
S34 Submission – Bar of Ireland
S34 Submission – An Bord Pleanála
S34 Submission – Association of Judges (Ireland)
S34 Submission – Bar of Northern Ireland
S34 Submission – Christopher Mills
S34 Submission – Courts Service
S34 Submission – Department of Justice
S34 Submission – DSBA (Part 1)
S34 Submission – DSBA (Part 2)
S34 Submission – Enterprise Ireland
S34 Submission Faculty of Notaries Public (Ire)
S34 Submission – An Garda Síochána
S34 Submission – Griffith College
S34 Joint Submission – Heads of Law Schools
S34 Submission – Irish Criminal Bar Association
S34 Submission – Legal Aid Board
S34 Submission Letterkenny Institute of Technology
34 Submission – Limerick Institute of Technology
S34 Submission – Maynooth University
S34 Submission – Institute of Legal Executives (Part 1)
S34 Submission – Institute of Legal Executives (Part 2)
S34 Submission – Institute of Legal Executives (Part 3)
S34 Submission – Solicitors Regulatory Authority
S34 Submission – Southern Law Association
S34 Submission – UCC School of Law
S34 Submission – University of Limerick
S34 Submission – Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions
Submissions received under Section 119 Public Consultation – Multi-Disciplinary Practices
Bar Council of Ireland Submission under Section 119 Public Consultation (MDPs)
Law Society Submission under Section 119 Public Consultation (MDPs)
King’s Inns Submission under Section 119 Public Consultation (MDPs)
CCPC Submission under Section 119 Public Consultation (MDPs)
FLAC Submission under Section 119 Public Consultation (MDPs)
Mental Health Commission Submission under S119 Public Consultation (MDPs)
Submission received not reflected in Section 119 Report
Kieran Fitzpatrick Submission under Section 119 Public Consultation (MDPs)
Submissions received under Section 120 Public Consultation – Matters Relating to Barristers
Bar Council of Ireland Submission under Section 120 Public Consultation (barristers)
Kings Inns Submission under Section 120 Public Consultation (barristers)
Law Society Submission under Section 120 Public Consultation (barristers)
Law Society Addendum under Section 120 Public Consultation (barristers)
Department of Education & Skills Submission under Section 120 Public Consultation (barristers)
Mental Health Commission Submission under S120 Public Consultation (barristers)
Mental Health Commission Ref 1 under S120 Public Consultation (barristers)
Mental Health Commission Ref 2 under S120 Public Consultation (barristers)
Kieran Fitzpatrick Submission under Section 120 Public Consultation (barristers)
Padraig Langsch Submission under Section 120 Public Consultation (barristers)
William McLoughlin Submission under Section 120 Public Consultation (barristers)
Submissions received under the Public Consultation on Legal Partnerships
Bar Council Submission under Section 118 Public Consultation on Legal Partnerships
Law Society Submission under Section 118 Public Consultation on Legal Partnerships
King’s Inns Submission under Section 118 Public Consultation on Legal Partnerships
CCPC Submission under Section 118 Public Consultation on Legal Partnerships
DSBA Submission under Section 118 Public Consultation on Legal Partnerships
K Fitzpatrick Submission under Section 118 Public Consultation on Legal Partnerships
Submission received not reflected in Section 118 Report