What is happening
See details of the proposed changes and the Law Society's response.
Upcoming event
Oireachtas Day
Upcoming event
Oireachtas Day
The Law Society is organising an Oireachtas Day on Wednesday, 15 July to ensure that solicitors working in criminal law have the opportunity to speak directly with their local TDs and Senators about the serious consequences that proposed changes to Criminal Legal Aid will have.
Campaign updates
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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.
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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.”
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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.
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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.
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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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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.
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09 Jun 2026
Solicitors from across Ireland voice concerns
Hundreds of solicitors have attended information meetings to address mounting concern about proposed changes to the Criminal Legal Aid system.
Resources for solicitors
Media coverage
Explore a snapshot of print, online and broadcast media coverage.
Get involved
Make your voice heard and stand up for access to justice.
