David Ford of Alliance, Alistair Ross of the DUP, Alban Maginness of the SDLP, and Rodney McCune of the UUP took part.

Sinn Féin did not provide a speaker as their manifesto launch took place on the same day.

Commenting on the event, Gerry McAlinden QC, Chairman of the Bar Council of Northern Ireland, told Irish Legal News: “The Bar was delighted to be able to bring together a wide audience from across the justice sector ranging from NGOs, academics and DOJ officials to solicitor representatives and members of the Bar to engage with the main political parties ahead of the elections.

“We adopted a roundtable style for the event allowing participants to engage in discussions with each of the political representatives on a number of topics, including public confidence in the justice system, collaborative working, the provision of publicly funded legal services, prison reform and innovations to support access to justice.

“I would like to extend the Bar’s thanks to the political parties for taking this opportunity to engage in the first justice sector hustings in Northern Ireland.

“It is important that the conversations taking place in the room on the policy priorities for the justice sector continue into the new Assembly mandate.”