There was a huge turnout at Dublin’s National Gallery on 23 January for the launch of OUTLaw, a networking and lobbying group for LGBT+ people working in the legal sector.

Committee member Chris Murnane, newly-qualified after a traineeship at Maples and Calder, explained that OUTLaw intends to co-ordinate and capitalise on the LGBT+ initiatives being undertaken by many law firms in the capital.

The ten-person OUTLaw committee is drawn from across the large firms, and Chris thanked those firms for their continued wholehearted support and commitment.

Data

There is no data available on the number of LGTB+ professionals working in the legal sector in Ireland, but Chris said that such data would be crucial for the success of diversity and inclusion initiatives.

He thanked the Law Society for being “incredibly supportive” of OUTLaw.

“As you may be aware, Patrick Dorgan, in his role as President of the Law Society, has appointed a task force to draft a gender equality, diversity and inclusion policy for the Society, and has asked for input from OUTLaw, which will be one of our first post-launch tasks.

He thanked the many members of the Law Society present at the launch for their support.

Maeve Delargy (Arthur Cox) said that to have a legal world as diverse as the clients it served, everyone must feel welcome.

She said that networking was a by-product, but not the main goal, of OUTLaw and there was a need for LGTB+ role models at the top of the legal world.

Deciding cases

Chief Justice Frank Clarke said the development of the rule of law required diversity among those who influenced those decisions, either by bringing or by deciding cases.

“Without that diversity, there is a lack in the proper development of the law,” he said.

He added that any initiative that encouraged the initial participation in, and open retention of those from diverse backgrounds in the upper reaches of the legal profession, must form a valuable part in promoting the proper development of the law in Ireland.

Justice Aileen Donnelly also spoke about LGBT+ rights in legal history.