New Council Assumes Leadership for 2024-2025

Today, the newly elected Bar Council takes effect; led by Seán Guerin SC, in his first year as Chair of the Council of The Bar of Ireland.

The Council’s work is supported by eight permanent committees and five non-permanent committees, which will advance and address the ongoing priorities of the Law Library. The Council and Committees serve as the vehicles to drive the Bar of Ireland’s goals and member-focused initiatives in respect of policy and law reform, alongside priorities relating to the membership, the legal sector and the community.

Seán is joined by Darren Lehane SC as Vice Chair and Séamus Clarke SC as Treasurer. The Council of 25 (including Rossa Fanning SC, Attorney General) features 8 first-time members of the Council, for the 2024-2025 term.

This new Council will confront some key challenges for the profession, in terms of policy, regulation and technology. In conjunction with my Council colleagues, as well as members of the profession whose voluntary contribution is essential to the work of the various Committees of the Council, I look forward to meeting these challenges.

I will engage with the membership and other participants in the justice system – including the judiciary, the Government, the Department of Justice, the Courts Service and the solicitor’s profession – to continue to develop and improve a justice system that is fit for purpose and that values the role of the independent referral bar.

I also want to express my gratitude to Sara Phelan SC, whose leadership of the Bar Council over the last two years has been an immense service both to the profession and the public interest.