The purpose of the Council is identified in the charter of 1852 to act “for the better rule and government of the Law Society, and for the better direction and management of the concerns thereof ”. The statutory functions of the Law Society, as set out in the Solicitors Acts 1954-2015, are exercised by the Council or by committees to which the Council delegates those statutory functions. The Council represents the Society and its members, both in the interests of the public and of the solicitors’ profession generally. 

The functions performed by the Council can be divided into:

• representation of the members,
• education and admission,
• regulation and discipline, and
• protection of clients.

President: Eamon Harrington

Vice-Presidents
Senior: Rosemarie Loftus
Junior: Valerie Peart

Past Presidents

Barry MacCarthy
Michelle Ní Longáin SC

Provincial Delegates

Leinster: Sonya M. Lanigan
Munster: Shane McCarthy
Ulster: Kevin McElhinney
Connaught: David Higgins

Dublin Solicitors Bar Association Representatives 

Joan Doran 
Avril Mangan
Paul Ryan

Southern Law Association Representatives

Rob Baker
Joan Byrne
Dermot Kelly
Jonathan Lynam
Veronica Neville

Law Society of Northern Ireland Representatives

Brian Archer
Mark Borland
Colin Mitchell  
Brigid Napier
Darren Toombs