Message from the President
Solicitor Collegiality
I
am honoured to have been elected as the President of the DSBA. I want to pay tribute to outgoing President Joe O’Malley who has steered us through the most challenging of times. The last 18 months have seen a Trojan effort on the part of our profession. Our mission to deliver an essential service to the public and to support the rule of law continued. We must celebrate and recognise the achievements of our profession. This year I want to highlight the pride that we have in our past, the changes that are already happening, the faith that we have in our future as a profession and the support that the DSBA will continue to proactively give solicitors throughout these changes. The DSBA has been representing its members since 1935. Over the years, the DSBA has continued to promote the interests of its members in areas such as delays in the Courts, practice management and professional indemnity insurance. This will continue apace. New ways of practising law are developing rapidly. We have seen the introduction of remote court hearings, remote working and new legal business models. All areas of law will continue to evolve. While change will happen, solicitors will continue to deliver a fundamental service to society. As the law becomes more complicated, clients have more need for dedicated solicitors to explain the law to them and how it can help them. There is a continuing need for advocacy both in areas relevant to solicitors and in areas relevant to society. The DSBA, as your representative body, will continue to advance your interests. This year the DSBA has made submissions to the Review of the Administration of Civil Justice group and the general scheme of the Family Law Court Bill to name but two. The DSBA will represent its members on the LSRA Legal Services Regulatory Authority consultation on the creation of a new profession of conveyancer and will make representations on systemic delays in Court lists. A new Human Rights and Public Interest law committee has been formed. We have seen how in need of protection the rule of law is. We welcome the recent initiative to support our colleagues in Afghanistan and the DSBA will play its part. These representations are only possible through the hard work of many DSBA volunteers sitting on committees and I want to thank them for all their work. The ability to obtain Professional Indemnity Insurance at an economical rate
4 the Parchment
remains a huge challenge for our members. Every year the situation worsens and threatens the viability of legal practices. The DSBA made a submission to the LSRA on the Regulation of PII for solicitors. This was assisted through a consultation process with DSBA members. Recommendations included a transparent review of the feasibility of a master policy and reform of the assigned risks pool. The DSBA recognises the fundamental importance of this issue to our members. This issue will continue to receive top priority from the DSBA. Perhaps the best way to futureproof ourselves is to keep on learning and explore new areas of practice. The DSBA will continue to produce a regular programme of top quality CPD Continuing Professional Development and will continue to produce the outstanding Parchment magazine. The DSBA will carry on producing new industry standard precedents for the benefit of our members. A key focus for the DSBA will be solicitor collegiality. The DSBA is known for its social events and next year we hope to resume our social events in different parts of Dublin. However, collegiality is more than just socialising events. Collegiality is the time you picked up the phone to a newly qualified colleague to give them tips for their new business…or the time you chatted to a colleague during the tea break of a DSBA seminar to exchange information or even just to give a supportive word. Wider than this, the help you give trainees and legal executives on their journey must be recognised. We want to encourage collegiality amongst all our members.
Collegiality is a key component of wellbeing for solicitors. The DSBA has been at the forefront of supporting solicitors’ wellbeing for decades. In addition to seminars and social events the DSBA Consult a Colleague phone line has been in operation for many years. The DSBA also has a Younger Members Committee which focuses on the needs of that cohort. The Dignity Matters survey on bullying and sexual harassment has just been received and its findings are truly shocking. Bullying and sexual harassment are totally at odds with collegiality. The DSBA will play its part in supporting any recommendations arising from it and in supporting the wellbeing of colleagues who have suffered from the scourge of bullying or sexual harassment. 2022 promises to be another year of change. The DSBA will continue to be a strong voice for its members, a force for innovation and will proactively support solicitors through this change. Solicitors continue to face many serious challenges. I have every faith that, together, we can overcome those challenges. I am proud to be a solicitor, particularly for the profession’s enduring dedication to justice, and I am proud to be a member of the DSBA. Thank you for the essential work that you do to deliver a service to people in Ireland and thank you for your commitment to the DSBA. I wish you all a peaceful, healthy and happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year. Diego Gallagher, DSBA President
