The Law Society is seeking the views of all solicitors to assist in the development of the Law Society’s 2024-2028 strategy, in a survey that has now issued by email. 

The current Statement of Strategy for the Law Society expires in December 2023.

This is the opportunity for solicitors to have their voice heard for their future and for the future of their Law Society.

The Law Society wants to hear how it can shape resources and capabilities for the solicitors’ profession and in the public interest.

Unprecedented change

President Maura Derivan said: “The current statement of strategy for the Law Society expires in December 2023. Given the scale of the challenges that the profession and wider society have encountered over the last few years, it is necessary and prudent to review, adapt, and harness the potential of the Society for its solicitors, and taking into account the public interest.”

“The world is going through an unprecedented level of change, which is set to continue. The next ten years will see substantial changes to the way in which we live our lives and do our work. Much of that transformation will be mandated and regulated by changes in the law," the president said.

Real opportunity

Director general Mark Garrett commented: “Against a changing landscape, and in developing the new statement of strategy, I see real opportunity for the legal profession and the Law Society – because we promote and advocate for the high standards that consumers, businesses, and employees want more than ever. That is why we are committed to a proactive strategy to help mitigate the challenges and take advantage of the opportunities that the changes will bring.”

Maura Derivan added: “At this early stage of the process, we want to hear your views and your voice about what you believe are the priorities for the Law Society for the next five years.”

Late last year, focus groups were held with the bar associations to obtain their perspectives on the challenges and opportunities for the profession and the Law Society. This will now be built on, with an online survey of all solicitors on the Roll of Solicitors and trainees.

Completing the survey

From 19 April, solicitors will receive an email from our research partner Behaviour & Attitudes (B&A), with a link to complete the survey by Tuesday 2 May.

It will have the subject line ‘Law Society Survey – B&A Research’, and will come from the sender info@bandasurvey.ie.

If you don’t receive this email by 21 April, please contact Behaviour & Attitudes at info@banda.ie, and they will send you the link to complete the survey.

If you have not received an email containing your survey link by 21 April, and wish to take part, please contact the Law Society of Ireland Research: B&A Survey Helpdesk.

The survey will take 10-15 minutes to complete. No preparation is needed and all contributions are confidential and anonymised.

It is vitally important that all members take this opportunity to share their practice experience and priorities through the survey before it closes on 2 May.

The survey will give you the opportunity to let your Law Society know:

• What you think of the Law Society and its work on your behalf,
• The opportunities you feel we need to explore and prioritise,
• Whether we should be doing more to be a representative voice for access to justice and law reform.

The survey will cover a number of key areas across four themes:

• The work of solicitors,
• Future challenges and opportunities facing the profession,
• Priorities for the Law Society, and
• Justice and law-reform issues.

Following the survey, the Law Society will continue to engage with its members through consultations, focus groups and workshops to better inform the new strategic plan for 2024-2028.

It's really important to hear the views of as many in the profession as possible to set strategic priorities that best meet solicitors' needs, so please submit your survey by close of business on 2 May.

For more information or queries, visit www.lawsociety.ie/strategy2024.

“This is the first survey of such scale in two years,” said President Derivan.

“It is an opportunity for every solicitor to give their views and assistance in shaping the future strategic direction of the Law Society.”