Dr Don Thornhill

The LSRA has appointed seven members to the new committee, which this month began its work towards implementing structural reforms to the system of education and training of solicitors and barristers.

Established under section 16 of the Legal Services Regulation Act 2015, the committee will carry out preparatory work for the delivery of key recommendations made by the LSRA in its 2020 report on legal practitioner education and training.

Dr Thornhill is joined on the committee by:

• Joan Crawford, CEO of the Legal Aid Board;
• Professor Barbara Jemphrey of the Institute of Professional Legal Studies in Northern Ireland;
• Dr Clíodhna Murphy, associate professor of law at Maynooth University;
• Dr Conan McKenna, former assistant secretary at the Department of Justice;
• Dr Padraig Walsh, former CEO of Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI); and
• Ghinlon Wang MRIAI, assistant education director at the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland.

The 2020 report recommended the development of a clear definition of the competence and standards required to practise as a solicitor or barrister.

It also called for the establishment of a new independent body to drive reform in the legal practitioner education and training arena, called the legal practitioners education and training (LPET) committee.

The LPET committee, which will require primary legislation, will both set and assure educational and training standards and accredit new and existing legal education and training providers.

The new LSRA committee will undertake key preparatory work for the introduction of the LPET committee, including:

• the development, as a priority and in consultation with QQI, existing training and other key stakeholders, of competency frameworks for solicitors and barristers;
• the development of the processes which would enable a statutory LPET committee, once required legislation has been commenced, to accredit new and existing legal education and training providers; and
• an examination of the resources required by the statutory LPET committee and a report with recommendations to the minister for justice on a proposed funding model.

It will also play an important role in assisting the LSRA with the delivery of the recommendations made it in its Breaking Down Barriers reports on the economic and other barriers facing aspiring and early career solicitors and barristers.

The new committee is working towards completion of its “challenging” programme of work within 15 months of its establishment.

Dr Thornhill said: “I am very pleased to chair this committee which will drive important structural reforms in how legal education and training for solicitors and barristers is delivered.

“I warmly welcome my fellow committee members who bring an impressive wealth of experience from a range of professional backgrounds and regulatory sectors.

“We very much look forward to advancing reforms and reporting to the minister for justice on the most appropriate structure for the implementation of these reforms.”