Law Society of Northern Ireland

The Law Society of Northern Ireland

Formation	10 January 1922
Type	Professional organisation
Headquarters	96 Victoria Street, Belfast
Region served	Northern Ireland
President	Rowan White

The Incorporated Law Society of Northern Ireland, commonly known as the Law Society of Northern Ireland, is a professional body established by Royal Charter granted on 10 July 1922 and whose powers and duties are to regulate the solicitors' profession in Northern Ireland with the aim of protecting the public. It is headquartered in Belfast, Northern Ireland's capital city.^[1]

Under the Solicitors (Northern Ireland) Order 1976, the Law Society acts as the regulatory authority governing the education, accounts, discipline and professional conduct of solicitors in order to maintain the independence, ethical standards, professional competence and quality of services offered to the public.^[2]

Relationship with the Law Society of Ireland[]

Prior to the partition of Ireland, solicitors in what became Northern Ireland were regulated by the Law Society of Ireland.

Northern Ireland-qualified solicitors are entitled to apply to the Law Society of Ireland to be admitted to the Roll of Solicitors in the Republic of Ireland without taking any further examinations. Republic of Ireland-qualified solicitors have a reciprocal eligibility.^[3]

Administration[]

The Law Society operates through an elected Council of 30 members, all practising solicitors, who serve on a voluntary basis. The Council is guided by the Presidential and Chief Executive Team which consists of the President, Senior Vice President, Junior President and Chief Executive.^[4]

Past Presidents[]

• 2005 – Attracta Wilson
• 2006 – Rory McShane
• 2007 – James Cooper
• 2008 – Donald Eakin
• 2009 – Barry Finlay
• 2010 – Norville Connolly
• 2011 – Brian Speers
• 2012 – Imelda McMillan
• 2013 – Michael Robinson
• 2014 – Richard Palmer
• 2015 – Arleen Elliott
• 2016 – John Guerin
• 2017 – Ian Huddleston
• 2018 – Eileen Ewing
• 2019 – Suzanne Rice
• 2020 – Rowan White
• 2021 – Rowan White

References[]