Council of the Law Society

The Law Society of Ireland is governed by a Council, comprising elected and nominated members of the solicitors’ profession. It also delegates statutory functions to a range of committees.

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Senior Vice President Martin Lawlor, President Rosemarie Loftus and Junior Vice President Keith Walsh SC
Senior Vice President Martin Lawlor, President Rosemarie Loftus and Junior Vice President Keith Walsh SC

The purpose of the Council is identified in the charter of 1852 to act “for the better rule and government of the Law Society, and for the better direction and management of the concerns thereof ”. The statutory functions of the Law Society, as set out in the Solicitors Acts 1954-2015, are exercised by the Council or by committees to which the Council delegates those statutory functions. The Council represents the Society and its members, both in the interests of the public and of the solicitors’ profession generally. 

The functions performed by the Council can be divided into:

  • representation of the members,
  • education and admission,
  • regulation and discipline, and
  • protection of clients.

Council of the Law Society

(Year ending 6 November 2026)

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President

Rosemarie Loftus

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Vice presidents

Senior: Martin Lawlor
Junior: Keith Walsh SC

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Justine Carty, Garry Clarke, Thomas Coughlan, Niamh Counihan, Brendan Cunningham, Maura Derivan, Peter Doyle, Paul Egan SC, Stuart Gilhooly SC, Dónal Hamilton, Richard Hammond SC, Eamon Harrington, Dr Bill Holohan SC, Áine Hynes SC, Paul Keane, Graham Kenny, Imran Khurshid, Gary Lee, Dr Shane McCarthy, Sonia McEntee, Fiona McNulty, Brian McMullin, Dr Susan Martin, Niamh Ní Mhurchú, Hilary O’Connor, Tony O’Sullivan, Valerie Peart, Cristina Stamatescu

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Provincial delegates

Connaught: David Higgins
Leinster: Sonya M Lanigan
Munster: Derek Walsh
Ulster: Kevin McElhinney

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Dublin Solicitors’ Bar Association

Joan Doran
Avril Mangan
Paul Ryan

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Southern Law Association

Robert Baker
Joan Byrne
Siún Hurley
Barry Kelleher
Jonathan Lynam

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Law Society of Northern Ireland

Mark Borland (president)
Colin Mitchell (senior vice-president) 
Eoghan McKenna (junior vice-president)
Darren Tombs (past-president)
Rowan White (past-president)

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Past-presidents

Barry MacCarthy

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Annual Report contents