Belfast solicitor Julie-Ann McCaffrey has been elected vice-president of the European Young Bar Association (EYBA).

Ms McCaffrey, chair of the Northern Ireland Young Solicitors Association (NIYSA), was one of three NIYSA committee members attending the EYBA Summer Conference and AGM hosted by the German Young Bar Association in Düsseldorf.

Commenting on her election, Ms McCaffrey said: “I am delighted that members elected me to be Vice-President of the EYBA, an association representing over 200,000 young lawyers from across Europe.

“The EYBA aims to promote the interests, educations and welfare of young lawyers and to establish professional and social relationships. I am looking forward to working with the new committee in the year ahead.”

The conference took place in the days immediately following the UK’s referendum on membership of the European Union.

Ms McCaffrey said: “The result of the referendum was obviously a point of discussion and debate throughout the course of the weekend. The overriding opinion expressed by delegates was disappointment at the decision by the UK to leave the EU.

“It was interesting to hear the thoughts and concerns of lawyers in attendance from Europe and America on the potential implications of the result for the legal sector.”

During the conference, delegates visited the local Bar Association and attended a guided tour of the Regional Court of Düsseldorf.

The next EYBA event is an international weekend in London this September, organised in conjunction with the Junior Lawyers Division, London Young Lawyers Group and Young Barristers Committee.