Flanagan: Government is ‘responding’ to needs of legal professionals

He said solicitors were qualifying in “a time of unique challenge and change … which affect the legal profession just as much as any other”.

The minister was speaking at the Law Society of Ireland’s Parchment Ceremony last night.

He pointed to the Legal Services Regulation Act 2015 and the government’s Brexit strategy as examples of its efforts to meet the demands of practitioners.

He said the government’s Brexit priorities are to minimise its economic impact, protect the peace process, maintain the Common Travel Area and influence the future of the European Union.

The minister added: “And our work complements I know, the work which is being done, with our support, by the Law Society, the Council of the Bar of Ireland and IDA Ireland.

“It is being done to exploit the competitive advantage that can accrue to Ireland and to its renowned justice system as an English-speaking, EU Member State, in a post-Brexit setting. Our shared objective in this endeavour is to ensure that such advantages fall to you, the next generation of Irish lawyers.”

He told the new solicitors: “We have a unique and universally recognised status as an established Common Law jurisdiction of the highest reputation.

“You now join the legal professions as builders and custodians of that reputation and champions of its competitive advantage.”

Mr Flanagan drew no reference in his speech to the government’s ongoing reform of the judicial appointments system, which has come under fierce criticism from parts of the judiciary.

He said he “very much” appreciates contributions to law reform by the Law Society, the Council of the Bar, the King’s Inns and the judiciary.