Statement from the Law Society on equal access to legal representation
Every person, regardless of their background or the nature of their case, is entitled to competent and fair legal representation.
This principle is fundamental to a just society and is enshrined in Ireland's legal system.
In a society founded on respect for the rule of law, solicitors fulfil a special role in the administration of justice and as officers of the court. Solicitors have a duty to provide legal advice and services, and act in the best interests of their clients, independently and without regard to personal opinions and external influences.
Solicitors cannot discriminate in favour or against any person on the grounds of race, colour, nationality, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth, economic or other status.
These principles are provided for by the United Nations Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers, in the Council of Europe Convention for the Protection of the Profession of Lawyer, and in the Law Society’s Solicitors’ Guide to Professional Conduct.
For public trust in the legal system to continue, everyone in Ireland must have effective and equal access to legal representation. Access to justice, which is fundamental to a functioning democracy, must be protected.
