Solicitors Flor McCarthy and Martin Lawlor had over 600 solicitors register for their first webinar on practising the law during the COVID-19 crisis.

Almost 1,000 registered for the second. The pair are now on their seventh webinar and the nature of the webinars has evolved.

Originally, the webinars were intended as a way of providing continuing professional development to colleagues but have now become a social outlet for participants who were unable to go out and about during lockdown.

Banter

“The craic and banter on the webinars almost became as important as the content we were sharing; the social aspect of them has become a central feature,” say Flor and Martin.

Flor McCarthy explains: “On our last webinar one of our guests was the great-granddaughter of the founder of the Southern Star.

 “Indeed, my own grandfather, also Florence McCarthy, had written for the Star as a court reporter back in the forties.”

The historical co-incidences led the Star to write up an article on the webinars in a recent edition.

Leadership

Flor McCarthy says he believes it is important to step up and take a leadership position in the legal profession.

“While the COVID-19 crisis has thrown up some awful problems and really serious challenges for us all, what is important is how we react and respond to those problems and challenges,” he says.

“Some things that wouldn’t have happened but for the current crisis have resulted in things getting done in new and different ways which in turn has thrown up innovations and opportunities,” McCarthy concludes.