Sarah Wilson, the BSA’s chairperson and a lawyer in the Departmental Solicitors’ Office, welcomed guests to Belfast City Hall for the event last Saturday and reflected on how the association was “standing on the shoulders of giants”, paying tribute to all the past chairs in the room.

She commented on how the association has moved with the times to promote the welfare and interests of the legal profession, but also drew attention to the Law Society’s Hook Tangaza report and emphasised how much work was still to be done, particularly in terms of equality and diversity.

Dame Brenda King, the Attorney General for Northern Ireland, then delivered the keynote speech, reflecting upon 80 years of the Northern Ireland solicitors’ profession and commenting on its achievements. In 2020, Dame Brenda became the first solicitor to be appointed as Attorney General.

Between speeches, 25 children from the City of Belfast Youth Orchestra and their conductor Paul McBride played to the guests in the room and their manager Robert Briscoe was also invited to attend the event.

A number of awards were also presented to solicitors to mark the special occasion.

Owen Beattie, managing director at Owen Beattie & Co Solicitors, received the BSA Rising Star Award which was sponsored by NI Young Solicitors Association.

Brigid Napier, director at Napier Solicitors, received the BSA Inspirational Woman Award, sponsored by Stewart Title, having been Law Society president most recently in their centenary year.

Finally, Tom Burgess, who was chairman of the BSA in 1978 and also the first solicitor in Northern Ireland to become a County Court judge, received the BSA Lifetime Achievement Award, sponsored by the Law Society of Northern Ireland, as he approaches his 80th birthday.

Susan Martin, president of the Dublin Solicitors Bar Association (DSBA), also made a special presentation and gifted the association with a loving cup made of Dublin silver to mark the anniversary and to symbolise the valued connection between the two associations. The DSBA was previously gifted the BSA chairman’s medal in June 1972.

A raffle was held at the end of the evening, which included a limited edition print of Northern Ireland Courthouses, donated by and exclusively available from Hanna Fine Art Hand, signed by Dame Siobhan Keegan, the Lady Chief Justice of Northern Ireland.

The raffle raised £1,702 for the BSA’s chosen charity, Employers For Disability Northern Ireland.

The gala ball was sponsored by ACHUMAN, a specialist legal recruitment company placing qualified lawyers across the world.