Ireland’s Legal Services Regulatory Authority (LSRA) is hosting the 12th annual event, welcoming more than 100 attendees to the Royal Marine Hotel in Dún Laoghaire to share experiences and good practices, explore trends and themes, and network.

The theme of this year’s conference is ‘The Future of Legal Regulation - Navigating the Decade Ahead’.

James Browne, minister of state with responsibility for law reform in the Department of Justice, made a welcome address to delegates by video-link this morning.

Irish speakers include Mr Justice David Barniville, the president of the High Court; Dr Catherine Day, the former EU secretary general of the European Commission; and Kathryn Stone OBE, the chair of the Bar Standards Board of England and Wales.

Academic speakers include Steven Vaughan, professor of law and professional ethics at University College London, and Professor Dr Matthias Kilian, the Hans-Soldan-Professor for the law of the legal profession at the University of Cologne, Germany.

Delegates have travelled to Ireland from jurisdictions including New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the US, England and Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, the Netherlands, Germany, South Africa, Singapore, Hong Kong and the United Arab Emirates.

Speaking ahead of the opening of the event this morning, the LSRA’s chief executive Dr Brian Doherty said: “It is our absolute pleasure to host a gathering of international colleagues, academics and experts.

“We have so much to learn from each other about internal and external challenges facing legal regulators in a post-pandemic world, as well as possible strategies and solutions. Change is the theme of this year’s event and there are many common issues we face arising from evolving legal landscapes, emerging regulatory demands and fresh demands on the lawyer of tomorrow.

“The threats and opportunities posed by artificial intelligence for regulators, lawyers and citizens is a key topic for discussion at this week’s conference.

“There are also many factors arising from the changing social make-up of the legal profession worldwide, and these can affect our work as regulators and in particular impact on conduct and fitness to practice regimes, as well as legal education and training.

“The event will also explore ethics within the profession and ask what it means for lawyers to uphold the rule of law.”