President's foreword
I would like to thank the In-house and Public Sector Committee for the work that has gone into this sixth edition of A Guide for In-house Solicitors Employed in the Corporate and Public Sectors.
By way of background, the committee was formed by the Society in recognition of the different perspectives and requirements of in-house solicitors – that is, those who work as solicitors outside of private practice in the public and private sectors, while still bound by the same professional and ethical standards that apply to solicitors in private practice. The committee aims to represent the views and promote the interests of in-house solicitors and helps to support the Law Society in the exercise of its representative, educational, and regulatory roles as they relate to the in-house sector.
To work as an in-house solicitor in Ireland at the present time is an ever-changing, challenging, and exciting experience. As the Irish economy evolves, the in-house sector has developed and expanded significantly. In fact, at the time of writing, in-house solicitors in the private and public sectors comprise approximately 25% of the Society’s membership and 23% of practising certificate holders. The Society is very aware of the need to provide supports to this important segment of the profession.
The committee strives to promote collegiality and the forming of connections between in-house solicitors, and to build upon and strengthen their relationship with the Law Society. The committee assists with the organisation of training tailored to in-house solicitors. The committee also represents the Law Society at European Company Lawyers Association (ECLA) general assemblies. It provides guidance to in-house solicitors on an ad hoc basis in response to individual queries. It assists with the production of relevant practice notes and submissions. The committee seeks to effectively communicate with in-house solicitors through articles in the Gazette and the eZine and through the committee’s section on the Law Society website, www.lawsociety.ie.
The in-house solicitor may have a multiplicity of roles in an organisation, depending on the circumstances – for example, legal advisor, business support, and company secretarial. In recognising that, this guide makes reference to the practical issues that may confront in-house solicitors in fulfilling their duties, such as instructing external legal advisers, professional practice issues that may be encountered, as well as support services available to the solicitors’ profession.
Maura Derivan
President, May 2023
