Law Society of Northern Ireland

The Law Society of Northern Ireland
Formation 10 January 1922
Type Professional organisation
Headquarters 96 Victoria Street, Belfast
Region served
Northern Ireland
President
 Eileen Ewing

The Incorporated Law Society of Northern Ireland, commonly known as the Law Society of Northern Ireland, is a professional body established by Royal Charter granted on 10 July 1922 and whose powers and duties are to regulate the solicitors' profession in Northern Ireland with the aim of protecting the public.

Under the Solicitors (Northern Ireland) Order 1976, the Law Society acts as the regulatory authority governing the education, accounts, discipline and professional conduct of solicitors in order to maintain the independence, ethical standards, professional competence and quality of services offered to the public.[1]

Governance and role

The Society operates through an elected Council of thirty members, all practising solicitors who serve on a voluntary basis. The Society employs qualified solicitors and chartered accountants to carry out the administrative role of the Society. The Society's role is to regulate and to provide a service for its members.

Regulation of solicitors includes the annual issue of a Practising Certificate to each solicitor.[2] This certificate entitles the solicitor to hold himself or herself out as a solicitor entitled to practice in Northern Ireland. The Society has a dedicated department, which handles complaints by clients against solicitors.[3]

Over the years the Society has contributed to draft legislation and frequently comments on proposed changes to the law including the impact of the changes on solicitors, their clients and the community. It has defended legal aid as a key part of democracy[4] and, in 2015, attempted to new legal aid rules quashed by the High Court.[5]

In 2010, the Society welcomed the devolution of policing and justice powers to the Northern Ireland Assembly. Since then the Society's Presidential and Chief Executive team has met regularly with the Minister for Justice, David Ford MLA and the Department of Justice in relation to a number of pressing issues affecting the solicitor profession and their clients.

Presidential team

The Law Society Presidential and Chief Executive team consists of the President, Senior Vice President, Junior President and Chief Executive.

The Presidential and Chief Executive team for 2017/2018 were appointed on Wednesday 29 November 2017. The new Presidential team are as follows:[6]

  • President — Eileen Ewing
  • Senior Vice President — Ian Huddleston
  • Junior Vice President — Suzanne Rice
  • Chief Executive and Registrar  — Alan Hunter

Chief executive and senior management team

The Chief Executive of the Law Society is Mr Alan Hunter who is supported by a senior management team.[7]

Past Presidents

  • 2005 — Attracta Wilson
  • 2006 — Rory McShane
  • 2007 — James Cooper
  • 2008 — Donald Eakin
  • 2009 — Barry Finlay
  • 2010 — Norville Connolly
  • 2011 — Brian Speers
  • 2012 — Imelda McMillan
  • 2013 — Michael Robinson
  • 2014 — Richard Palmer
  • 2015 — Arleen Elliott
  • 2016 — John Guerin
  • 2017 — Ian Huddleston
  • 2018 — Eileen Ewing

References

  1. ↑ http://www.lawsoc-ni.org/role-of-the-law-society/regulation/
  2. ↑ http://www.lawsoc-ni.org/role-of-the-law-society/regulation/
  3. ↑ http://www.lawsoc-ni.org/making-a-complaint/
  4. ↑ "Law Society NI defends legal aid against 'bottomless pit' claim". Irish Legal News. 29 October 2015. Retrieved 3 March 2016.
  5. ↑ "Mixed feelings as judge refuses to quash NI legal aid fee rules". Irish Legal News. 16 November 2015. Retrieved 3 March 2016.
  6. ↑ "John Guerin becomes president of Law Society of Northern Ireland". Irish Legal News. 27 November 2015. Retrieved 3 March 2016.
  7. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2010-12-15. Retrieved 2010-12-13.
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