Legal Services Regulation Bill 26th January 2012

IWLA Professional Series - Legal Services Regulation Bill
The Irish Women Lawyers Association (IWLA) hosted a Legal Seminar on the topic of the recently published Legal Services Regulation Bill on the 26th January 2011

The Millstream Restaurant, at the University of Limerick, was the venue for the eleventh meeting of the IWLA in the Mid-West. 

The speaker for the evening was Noeline Blackwell, Director General of FLAC. The topic chosen for the event was the Legal Services Regulation Bill, 2011. 

The speaker gave an informative overview of some of the main features of the Bill - a legal services regulatory authority, complaints procedure and independent disciplinary tribunal for the profession, as well as an office of legal costs adjudicator - are examples. 

The proposed regulatory authority had already attracted considerable debate - not least the proposed manner of appointment and this was touched on in the subsequent discussion. The impact on the client's choice counsel arising from the potential for partnership between the current two streams of the legal profession was also a discussion point at the meeting, as was the impact on client costs. 

Those attending the seminar engaged in a very lively debate, with current practices and experiences being exchanged. All present were very grateful to the speaker for having travelled from Dublin for the event. The evening closed with an extensive hot and cold range of tapas and snacks.