LSRA marks ten years of legal regulation
The Legal Services Regulatory Authority (LSRA) has marked ten years as Ireland’s independent regulator of legal services with an event at the Royal College of Physicians in Dublin (14 October).
Since its establishment on 1 October 2016, the LSRA has established the Roll of Practising Barristers, introduced an independent service for complaints about solicitors and barristers, strengthened legal-cost transparency, authorised Limited Liability Partnerships and legal partnerships, reformed professional indemnity insurance requirements for barristers, and advanced work on legal education and access to the legal profession.
Public confidence
Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration Jim O’Callaghan told attendees: “Independent and effective regulation is essential to public confidence in our legal services and in the wider administration of justice.
“Over the past ten years, the LSRA has established itself as an important part of Ireland’s legal and regulatory framework, delivering practical reforms that support transparency, accountability and high professional standards.
“The legal-services sector will continue to evolve in response to technology, changing models of practice and the needs of the public. The LSRA will have an important role in ensuring that this change is supported by strong standards, trusted institutions and a clear focus on the public interest.”
Chief executive Niamh Muldoon said: “The LSRA’s first decade has been about building an independent regulator and turning a wide-ranging statutory remit into practical change for the public and the legal professions.
“We have established an independent complaints service, introduced new regulatory structures, and supported greater transparency in how legal services are provided.
“People avail of legal services at some of the most significant and often, difficult moments in their lives. Our work underpins the high standards our society can rely upon in these services, where to turn if something goes wrong, safe in the knowledge that any concerns will be considered fairly and impartially,” she stated.