LSRA urges more oversight for ‘barriers’ project
The legal-services regulator has proposed changes to an implementation plan for a project aimed at widening access to the legal profession.
The proposals are contained in a progress report from the Legal Services Regulatory Authority (LSRA) on the implementation of recommendations to address barriers facing aspiring and early-career solicitors and barristers.
The 32 recommendations were contained in the Breaking Down Barriers report, which was published by the LSRA in 2024.
The LSRA has proposed extending the timeline of the implementation of the project, citing its “scale and complexity”.
Changes in personnel
It has also called for enhanced oversight and resourcing for the project, saying that some of the recommendations should be progressed through the work of the Legal Practitioner Education and Training (LPET) Committee.
The report says that responsibility for implementing the plan currently rests with a small team within the LSRA, adding that changes in personnel at the authority have affected continuity and the pace of delivery.
It adds that providing the LPET Committee or a similar structure with oversight of the implementation plan may “broaden ownership and support greater continuity and resilience in delivery”.
The committee, proposed in a 2020 report from the LSRA, will be responsible for setting and maintaining the standards in the provision of legal education and training across all providers.
While legislative amendments to formally set up the body are in development, an interim committee has been established and has begun a programme of work.
Apprenticeship plan welcomed
In the report, covering the period from October 2025 to March 2026, the LSRA welcomes several initiatives from the Law Society and other professional bodies to widen access to the legal profession.
The report highlights in particular that the Law Society is examining a solicitor apprenticeship model as a new route to qualification for school leavers and legal executives.
The model has been approved in principle by the Law Society’s Education Committee and drafting of regulations is underway.
It adds that the Law Society will introduce a new Modular Professional Practice Course (PPC), in addition to the full-time PPC and the PPC Hybrid, in December 2026.
Diversity data delay
The LSRA says that training providers were unable to collect data on the diversity of their student intake in autumn 2025, citing the complexity of the project and the importance of safeguarding data protection.
It says that the providers “may” be in a position to collect data on trainee solicitors in autumn 2026, although this depends on all GDPR procedures being in place.
The report adds that it is awaiting an update from the Law Society on its engagement with a recommendation for a minimum pay threshold for trainee solicitors.
The LSRA welcomes a symposium held by the Law Society last November on training contracts in the public sector, as well as initiatives to increase financial supports for small regional firms.
The report also “ notes and welcomes” engagement between the three professional bodies to consider a mutual recognition framework for solicitors and barristers with less than three years post-qualification experience, adding that the LSRA will continue to monitor progress in this area.
Mandatory pupillage
On barrister training, the report notes that the King’s Inns and the Bar of Ireland are in favour of retaining the requirement for mandatory pupillage.
The Bar has told the LSRA that any financial supports for pupils must be externally funded – either directly by Government or through an appropriate State-administered access scheme.
“Engagement is ongoing between the LSRA and the Bar of Ireland on proposals for financial supports and funding mechanisms for barrister pupils,” it adds.
‘Significant work’
LSRA chief executive Niamh Muldoon said that the report reflected the continued work across the sector to address barriers to legal education, training, and early-career opportunities.
“I acknowledge the significant work undertaken by the professional bodies in developing and delivering a number of these initiatives.
“The next phase of implementation will focus on embedding these measures within existing structures and broadening access and opportunity across the legal professions,” she concluded.