It follows research published last month by the Legal Services Regulatory Authority (LSRA), which also made a series of recommendations for reforms to tackle economic and other barriers facing aspiring and early career legal professionals and to increase diversity in the legal professions.

The LSRA has now produced an implementation plan for its 32 recommendations, which will be taken forward by the LSRA and a new working group.

“We must do everything possible to widen and increase access to education, training, and career opportunities,” justice minister Helen McEntee said today.

“Any person who has the skills and determination to pursue a career in the legal professions should be empowered to do so, irrespective of their social or economic background, gender, ethnicity or where they are from.”

“The Breaking Down Barriers report identified key areas in need of reform, and this implementation plan identifies a clear and cohesive path by which this reform can be achieved.

“To ensure continued momentum and progress, I have requested that the LSRA provide progress reports to my Department every six months.”

The CEO of the LSRA will chair the Barriers Implementation Working Group, which will include representatives from relevant professional bodies and will hold quarterly progress update meetings with the Law Society, the King’s Inns and the Bar.

Mrs McEntee said: “Reform at this level will involve a range of stakeholders and I welcome the LSRA’s prioritising of regular meetings, discussion, and collaboration between the relevant parties to drive progress.

“I am particularly pleased to see that the LSRA’s annual ‘Pathways to the Professions’ report on admissions to the legal professions will be used as a reporting mechanism on issues such as diversity among entrants to legal professional education and training.”

She added: “Where the proposed recommendations relate to legal professional education and training, input will be sought from the Legal Practitioners Education and Training Committee (LPET), the establishment of which was recommended in the 2020 report, ‘Setting Standards: Legal Practitioner Education and Training and will require primary legislation’.

“The LRSA has established an Education and Training Committee, to undertake the preparatory work necessary for the establishment of the LPET.”

Dr Brian Doherty, CEO of the LSRA, said: “The LSRA very much looks forward to working with all relevant stakeholders with the common goal of building a more inclusive and diverse legal services sector.

“The recommendations made in the Breaking Down Barriers report represent an important reform initiative which will build upon measures introduced in recent years by key stakeholders, including the professional bodies for solicitors and barristers, the Law Society of Ireland, the Bar of Ireland and the Honorable Society of King’s Inns.”