The Legal Services Regulatory Authority (LSRA) has confirmed Dáil and Seanad approval this week for the reappointment of four serving authority members, and the appointment of one new member.

The appointment and reappointments, which take effect from 1 October, are:

• Simon Murphy (newly appointed authority member, and one of two members nominated by the Law Society),
• Eileen Barrington SC (reappointed nominee of the King’s Inns),
• Angela Black (reappointed nominee of the Citizens Information Board),
• Joan Crawford (reappointment nominee of the Legal Aid Board), and
• Dr Don Thornhill (chair, and reappointed nominee of the Higher Education Authority).

Experience

Chair Dr Don Thornhill said: “The members bring significant practical, academic and legal experience and expertise to the authority as it continues with its challenging work programme in fulfilment of its statutory mandate to regulate the provision of legal services, and ensure the maintenance and improvement of standards in the provision of such services, and promoting and protecting the public interest, including those of consumers.”

The LSRA is an independent statutory body, established in October 2016, and responsible for the regulation of legal services provided by solicitors and barristers. 

It is formed from nominees of ten organisations listed in the Legal Services Regulation Act 2015. It has a lay majority. The names of nominees are approved by the Cabinet, and resolutions of both Houses of the Oireachtas.

The LSRA’s chief executive is Dr Brian Doherty.