Midlands Solicitors Bar Association celebrates successful AGM

Anne Marie Kelleher, president of the Association, opened the AGM by summarising the past 12 months of vibrant activity, thanking the committee for its work and members who spoke at CPD events.

The Association is the only law association in Ireland which covers a two-county area and elects its committee for a two-year term.

A moment’s silence was held for the late solicitor Tom Shaw, father of John Shaw and previous past president of the Law Society. Ms Kelleher said he was a great loss to his family and to the profession.

Members heard of the Association’s pride on the appointment of Judge Bernadette Owens to the District Court bench in early 2017, which was followed by a celebratory dinner at Tullamore Court Hotel, and Ms Kelleher said she hoped the Association would return to the Tullamore Dew, Distiller House for another CPD event following an extremely popular CPD event last September.

Mr Quinlan subsequently addressed the AGM, discussing the topics of Setanta insurance; taxation of costs; well-being and stress management for solicitors; criminal legal aid payments; the Law Society education committee; and the new Mediation Act 2017.

Mr Murphy told members that he was impressed on how well-attended, active and well-run the Association was, and spoke about growth in the legal profession as well as the impact of Brexit.

After the AGM closed, members joined Mr Quinlan and Mr Murphy for dinner at the Bridge House Hotel.