The Legal Services Regulatory Authority (LSRA) of Ireland is on the brink of introducing a new regulatory framework tailored for legal partnerships, marking a significant evolution in the structure for delivering legal services. This innovative framework is designed to support two types of partnerships: solicitor-barrister and barrister-only, with each configuration mandating the inclusion of at…
Implementation of the European Artificial Intelligence Act in Ireland
The Law Society of Ireland has made a submission to the Irish Government on how it believes the European Artificial Intelligence Act (AI Act) should be implemented in Ireland. The EU’s AI Act, which is designed to regulate and foster responsible AI development, officially came into force on August 1, 2024. The AI Act classifies…
Legal Services Regulatory Authority of Ireland to introduce legal partnerships
The Legal Services Regulatory Authority (LSRA) of Ireland plans to introduce legal partnerships in the autumn of 2024, providing a new business structure that will allow barristers, or barristers and solicitors, to form partnerships. This initiative, enabled by the Legal Services Regulation Act 2015 and subsequent amendments, aims to modernise the delivery of legal services…
LSRA open consultation on legal partnerships draft resolution
The Legal Services Regulatory Authority (LSRA) has initiated a month-long consultation on the draft regulatory framework for new legal partnerships. This framework enables partnerships between solicitors and barristers, allowing them to offer legal services jointly, a development made possible by amendments to the Legal Services Regulation Act 2015 in July 2023. These partnerships may operate…
JP McDowell, Managing Partner at Fieldfisher Ireland, calls for more power to regulators
JP McDowell, managing partner of Fieldfisher in Ireland, a leading international law firm representing various Irish professional regulators, has advocated for granting more regulatory bodies the authority to conduct searches, seize documents, and bring prosecutions. McDowell highlighted the importance of transparency in regulatory processes and welcomed recent scrutiny of regulatory practices. He emphasized the need…
Legal Services Regulatory Authority of Ireland welcomes passage of the Courts and Civil Law Bill 2023
The Legal Services Regulatory Authority (LSRA) of Ireland has welcomed the passage of the Courts and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023, which contains a range of reforms including amendments to the Legal Services Regulation Act 2015. The amendments are related to the levy on legal practitioners and aim to simplify the funding model for…
The Legal Services Regulatory Authority of Ireland has set out its strategic plan 2022-2025
The Legal Services Regulatory Authority of Ireland has published its strategic plan 2022-2025. This strategic plan represents its third plan since inception in 2016. The plan sets out three strategic priorities: Strategic priority 1: We will enhance operational efficiency to deliver our core regulatory operations and services effectively and independently and to identified and benchmarked…
Bar of Ireland publishes independent review into the future of the provision of barrister services
The Bar of Ireland has today published a new independent report and strategic review on the likely future landscape for the provision of legal services by barristers with a view to identifying a strategic response from the Council to ensure the future of the profession. It follows a year-long process of consultation, analysis, and consideration….
The Legal Services Regulatory Authority of Ireland have issued guidance on EU sanctions regarding Russia
The Irish Legal Services Regulatory Authority has issued guidance in accordance with new EU sanctions on Russia relating to the invasion of Ukraine. The guidance is to ensure Irish barristers are up to date on issues relating to anti-money laundering and sets out the obligation on legal practitioners relating to sanctions on Russia and Belarus….
The Legal Services Regulatory Authority of the Republic of Ireland has launched an online survey for newly qualified solicitors and barristers
The Legal Services Regulatory Authority of the Republic of Ireland has launched an anonymous survey to capture the views of solicitors and barristers who have qualified since 2014 and have chosen not to practice. The aim of the research is to uncover the economic and other barriers faced by newly qualified barristers and solicitors. The…