Legal Services Bill – Bar Council vs Minister Shatter

11. October 2011 · Category: News and Articles

The battle lines have been drawn in the build up to the new Legal Services Bill.

As the Irish Times reported:http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/frontpage/2011/1010/1224305519450.html

Alan Shatter was referring to a meeting between representatives of the Bar Council and of the EU and IMF last Monday, on the eve of his announcement of measures to be contained in the Bill.

“It is extraordinary that the Bar Council should put itself in a position where it is briefing against the State and seems intent on doing damage to the credibility of the State with the EU, IMF and ECB in circumstances where the State is fully compliant with the agreements it concluded, and in circumstances in which the State remains dependent for public services on funding from those bodies,” Mr Shatter told The Irish Times.

What is interesting is that the Bar Council have decided, without reading the Bill, that the government are going to use the premise that the Bill is uniformly in favor of the consumer to push in changes that they want. The key worry expressed is that there will be too much political influence in choosing the members of the Legal Services Regulatory Authority. The reality is that no one knows yet.

I will reserve judgement until the Bill is released but I do think that there is a glaring omission in the press release which can be read here. http://www.justice.ie/en/JELR/Pages/PR11000184

Online legal services have become a key battleground in the US between traditional lawyers and non practicing legal providers. The UK has legislated for this but the Irish Press Release makes not mention of this issue.  For further info on the progress made have a look at this article.http://www.forbes.com/sites/danielfisher/2011/10/05/silicon-valley-sees-gold-in-internet-legal-services/