The Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill is opposed by every political party in the Northern Ireland Assembly, the Irish government, Amnesty International, the Law Society of Northern Ireland, the US government and the Council of Europe, among others.

However, the Law Society said that despite the “near universal criticism”, it “seems likely that it will become an Act of Parliament later this year”.

In a statement issued earlier today, the Law Society added: “Lawyers in Northern Ireland will soon have to decide how to respond to this new legislation.

“In order to inform our response to the new legislation the Law Society of Northern Ireland will be holding a major conference on legacy later this year.”