The courts and judiciary must play a central role in shaping how artificial intelligence (AI) is used in legal systems if public trust and legitimacy are to be maintained, experts stressed at an event hosted by University of Limerick. The issue was explored during a panel discussion entitled ‘
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Appointments
See all articlesThe Victim Support at Court (V-SAC) Board has appointed Dr. Ian Marder as its new chairperson. He succeeds Ian Fleming, who served as chairperson for three years and as a board director for more than five years. A board director since 2023 and deputy chairperson since February this year, Dr. Ian Mar
Browne Jacobson has announced the appointment of David Hill as partner. Mr Hill joins the UK and Ireland law firm’s health and life sciences practice from Blake Morgan. He specialises in supporting healthcare organisations to successfully adopt new medicines, technologies, and service models t
Carson McDowell has welcomed seven newly qualified solicitors following the successful completion of their training contracts with the firm, marking an important milestone in their legal careers. Steven Burrows, Rebekah Spence, Holly Cooper, Jack Turkington, Reece Simpson, Sarah Logan and Susanna El
DWF has appointed insurance lawyer David Kennedy as a partner in its Dublin office. Mr Kennedy joins DWF from DAC Beachcroft. Dual-qualified in Ireland and England & Wales, he brings 18 years’ experience advising on the defence of employers’, public, product and motor liability claim
Pinsent Masons has appointed new partner James Quirke to lead its corporate tax team in Dublin. Mr Quirke joins from McCann FitzGerald LLP where he became a partner in 2024. As well as a solicitor, Mr Quirke is a chartered accountant and chartered tax advisor.
Foot Anstey has welcomed four new trainee solicitors to its Belfast office. Ben Lloyd, Kerri Robinson, Ben Donnelly and Sinead Donohoe have joined the firm’s two-year training programme, which combines direct experience across a range of practice areas with study at the Institute of Profession
Northern Ireland
See all articlesThe Court of Appeal has dismissed an appeal by Breandán Mac Cionnait against a decision of Mr Justice Humphreys where he refused leave to apply for judicial review of a determination of the Parades Commission for Northern Ireland permitting a parade by Portadown Orange Order down the Garvaghy
Carson McDowell has welcomed seven newly qualified solicitors following the successful completion of their training contracts with the firm, marking an important milestone in their legal careers. Steven Burrows, Rebekah Spence, Holly Cooper, Jack Turkington, Reece Simpson, Sarah Logan and Susanna El
DWF has hosted the second annual conference for the In-House Lawyers Group Northern Ireland (IHLGNI), bringing together in-house legal professionals from across Northern Ireland to explore the impact of artificial intelligence on the legal profession. The conference, which took place on Thursday 8 O
The Northern Ireland Department of Justice has launched a public consultation on the use of good character references at sentencing in certain criminal proceedings. Views are being sought on a range of proposals, including the retention of the current legal position, and the introduction of a requir
Foot Anstey has welcomed four new trainee solicitors to its Belfast office. Ben Lloyd, Kerri Robinson, Ben Donnelly and Sinead Donohoe have joined the firm’s two-year training programme, which combines direct experience across a range of practice areas with study at the Institute of Profession
Universities
See all articlesThe courts and judiciary must play a central role in shaping how artificial intelligence (AI) is used in legal systems if public trust and legitimacy are to be maintained, experts stressed at an event hosted by University of Limerick. The issue was explored during a panel discussion entitled ‘
Dr Victoria Barnes, associate dean of education and academic at the School of Law at Queen’s University Belfast has been awarded the 2026 Podgórecki Prize by the Research Committee on Sociology of Law (RCSL) of the International Sociological Association. Established in 2004 in mem
Applications have opened for the UK Supreme Court’s Moot programme for university law schools and law societies. The UK Supreme Court offers 12 graduate law schools and university law societies the chance to have their moot final judged by one of the Supreme Court Justices at the court or virt
The University of Limerick School of Law has launched a year-long programme of silver jubilee celebrations marking its 25th anniversary. Starting out as a small academic unit established in 2001 it is now one of Ireland’s leading centres for legal education, research and public engagement.
Professor Joan Loughrey takes up the position as president of the Society of Legal Scholars of the United Kingdom and Ireland (SLS) from today. The SLS is a learned society with charitable status whose aim is the advancement of legal education and scholarship in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Profe
Interviews
See all articlesJulie Galbraith, chief business officer and general counsel at Irish insurance broker, Arachas, recently took part in Rory’s Miles 2 Mayo walking nine marathons over nine days and covering 235 miles across Ireland in aid of Cancer Fund for Children. She spoke to Irish Legal News about taking o
The numbers show that data security incidents have ascended ineluctably during the past five years. And according to the UK’S Cyber Security Breaches Survey, cybersecurity is not necessarily getting worse just because a greater percentage of companies are being attacked, but rather the attacks
Colin Cardwell
Naoise Nunn tells Emma Hutchinson how Kilkenny Law Festival aims to make the law more accessible, entertaining and relevant to the public. Next weekend will see the Kilkenny Law Festival fill venues across the beautiful city of Kilkenny from Friday to Sunday. Unlike a traditional legal conference, t
Emma Hutchinson
Ireland’s role as one of the world’s leading aircraft leasing hubs dates to 1975, when the billionaire businessman Tony Ryan founded Guinness Peat Aviation (GPA) in 1975. Ryan, of course, was also one of the co-founders of Ryanair in 1984. His venture created a pool of experienced aviati
Colin Cardwell
When Majella Walsh was announced as the recipient of the Munster Regional Sole Practitioner of the Year award at the LEAP Irish Law Awards last month, she says her first reaction was one of some surprise. Those who know her professionally would not have been startled at the news. Noted by clients fo
Colin Cardwell




