Significant progress in access to profession – LSRA
The Legal Services Regulatory Authority (LSRA) has published its fourth progress report on the implementation of recommendations to address barriers facing aspiring and early career solicitors and barristers arising from the Breaking Down Barriers project.
Since 2024, the LSRA along with the Law Society, King’s Inns and The Bar of Ireland have been progressing the Breaking Down Barriers Implementation Plan.
Covering the period April-September 2026, this report builds on previous updates and reflects continued work with the professional bodies and other stakeholders.
Commitment of professional bodies
Chief executive Niamh Muldoon said: “Further significant progress has been made in this reporting period on the implementation of recommendations set out in the Breaking Down Barriers report, published in January 2024, which set out 32 recommendations to address the challenges identified.
“The continued commitment of the professional bodies to making meaningful changes to broaden access to a career in the legal professions is commendable. The initiatives being introduced, embedded and enhanced will promote diversity in the legal professions.”
The report shows:
- Law Society and King’s Inns have set up the necessary structures to gather data on diversity from trainee solicitors and student barristers undertaking their training courses,
- Law Society’s new apprenticeship programme is expected to welcome its first cohort from September 2027 with expressions of interest accepted from Autumn 2026,
- Professional bodies are collaborating with The Courts Service to enhance supports available for members of the legal professions with disabilities,
- Professional bodies have continued to develop ongoing initiatives to promote equality, diversity and inclusion at entry points to, and across the legal professions
Work is already underway in the development of new accreditation standards for legal professional programmes enabling eligibility to the professions of barrister and solicitor.
Competency frameworks
This work includes design of competency frameworks for graduate professional legal education programme providers, training solicitors and barristers.
This work will build on the existing frameworks for each profession.
The drafting of competencies and standards for both branches of the legal professions are advancing, with feedback and input sought through a public consultation in the coming months.