What is happening
See details of the proposed changes and the Law Society's response.
Guidance on professional obligations
Guidance on professional obligations
The purpose of this guidance is to outline the professional obligations of solicitors that need to be adhered to in circumstances in which instructions have already been received from a client and the solicitor-client relationship established in respect of a matter that is before the criminal courts
Campaign updates
article
19 Jul 2026
Latest statement
Figures point to collapse in criminal legal aid certificates.
article
09 Jul 2026
Criminal Legal Aid data
The Law Society is gathering practitioner data on what is happening nationwide in response to the changes introduced under the Criminal Legal Aid Scheme.
article
30 Jun 2026
Oireachtas engagement
Law Society President Rosemarie Loftus and members of the Criminal Law Committee attended a meeting of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to discuss concerns about the proposed changes to Criminal Legal Aid.
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30 Jun 2026
Statement from Law Society President Rosemarie Loftus
“!Any reform of criminal legal aid should be workable, fair and evidence based. This proposal is none of those things and the fundamental concerns the Law Society has outlined have not been addressed.”
article
23 Jun 2026
Justice Minister must publish report on criminal legal aid
The Justice Minister must release the report he is using as a pretext to take a sledgehammer to the criminal legal aid scheme, according to Social Democrats justice spokesperson Gary Gannon.
article
22 Jun 2026
A more thoughtful, coherent and effective approach needed
Sinn Féin spokesperson on Justice, Matt Carthy TD, warns that proposals ignore the complexity of the reasons for delays in the courts and their impact on access to justice for vulnerable people and victims of crime.
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26 Jun 2026
Legal, Human Rights, Civil Society organisations raise concerns
Several national legal, human rights and civil society organisations came together to voice their shared concerns regarding a planned 20% cut to Ireland's Criminal Legal Aid Scheme and the potential consequences for access to justice.
article
22 Jun 2026
Practitioner guidance leaves questions unanswered
Criminal law practitioners have expressed serious concern following the publication of a guidance document raises substantive operational, financial, and procedural issues for solicitors engaged in criminal defence work.
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18 Jun 2026
Law Society condemns seriously flawed review
Major policy changes should be supported by strong analysis and systematic data – not anecdotes and hearsay- says Law Society President Rosemarie Loftus.
Resources for solicitors
Media coverage
Explore a snapshot of print, online and broadcast media coverage.
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