The Bar Of Ireland

Women make up a fifth of silks at the Irish bar for the first time after 27 barristers, including 15 women, were called to the Inner Bar today.

Judges have a role in effecting social change in Ireland but have to push their own views "to the back of our minds" when making decisions, High Court president Mr Justice David Barniville has said. The judge was joined by Mr Justice Gerard Hogan, Ms Justice Siobhán Phelan, Ms Justice Iseult

An increase in Law Library membership subscription rates is set to come into effect later this week. In an email sent to barristers on behalf of the Bar Council, Séamus Clarke SC said the general increase of 6.5 per cent from 1 October 2022 is "required to deliver all current member services

The new Bar Council, chaired by Sara Phelan SC, has come into effect. Ms Phelan was elected in July to succeed Maura McNally SC in the prominent role, which she will hold from today until 11 September 2023.

John Breslin SC has been elected as chair of the newly-launched Financial Services Bar Association (FSBA). Mr Justice David Barniville, president of the High Court, will address the launch of the new specialist bar association in the Distillery Building today at 4.30pm.

Sara Phelan SC has been elected as the next chair of the Council of the Bar of Ireland, taking up the role from September 2022. Succeeding Maura McNally SC, who has held the post for two years, she will become only the third woman to ever serve as Bar Council chairperson.

Hundreds of barristers who pay reduced subscriptions to the Law Library because they are based more than 150 kilometres from the Four Courts will see their fees increase. A recent meeting of the Bar Council agreed to increase subscription fees for so-called "country members" by 15 to 20 per cent ove

The Bar of Ireland will promote "equitable briefing practices" as part of plans to improve women's representation at senior levels of practice. The first-ever equality action plan published by the Bar sets out recommended actions in five areas:

A new specialist bar association for tax practitioners is set to be launched this Thursday afternoon. The launch will be addressed by Conor Kennedy, a barrister and member of the Tax Appeals Commission (TAC), and Ciaran Ramsay SC, chair of the new Tax Bar Association.

The Movement of Asylum Seekers in Ireland (MASI) has received The Bar of Ireland's annual human rights award. The award recognises MASI's work with those in direct provision and in the community advocating for better legal and social protection, as well as access to state services, including educati

The Bar of Ireland has announced a number of initiatives to mark the centenary of Frances Kyle and Averil Deverell becoming Ireland's first woman barristers. Ms Kyle and Ms Deverell were the first women to be called in both Ireland and Britain, and Ms Deverell was the first woman on both islands to

A solicitor was forced to pay €2,500 in costs to the Legal Services Regulatory Authority (LSRA) after the regulator upheld a complaint over non-payment of a barrister's fees. The barrister had complained to the regulator that he had not been paid around €20,000 for work on criminal legal a

The government has claimed it has not yet seen any evidence that cuts in barristers' pay are linked to recruitment and retention issues. Public expenditure and reform minister Michael McGrath said his department has "sought evidence to support any claims that the reductions imposed are linked to sig

In its first year of service, 123 members signed up to the Bar of Ireland's practice support and fee recovery service for assistance in recovering overdue fee notes. The service was launched in July 2020 and provides much-needed support to members in relation to fee recovery and cashflow management.

The Bar of Ireland has called for the urgent restoration of fees paid to criminal barristers as new figures show that two-thirds abandon a career in criminal law after just six years. Under FEMPI legislation in the aftermath of the financial crisis, professional fees paid to barristers practising cr