- February 26, 2026
- Posted by: Colm Hurley
- Category: News
Having recently completed his term as President of the Law Society of Ireland, Eamon Harrington looks back on a year that brought many memorable moments. In this article, Eamon speaks openly about the highlights and challenges of his year, what he learned from the experience, and his thoughts on the issues facing the profession in the years ahead.
Presidency Reflections
Congratulations on your successful term as President of the Law Society, Eamon. Now that your term has concluded, how do you reflect on your time in the role?
It was the honour of my professional life. I thoroughly enjoyed working with Council and the Executive team in the Law Society, as well as so many solicitors from all over the country who volunteer to work for the public good.
I am more convinced than ever of the value and importance of the work done by lawyers – justice and respect for the rule of law are not abstract ideas. I am proud of the profession and the Law Society for the work we do to serve the public.
Highlights included hosting a visit of Ukrainian judges, which was very moving. A senior Ukrainian judge stood in the middle of the room and delivered the most powerful speech I have ever witnessed, hailing the bravery of his people, expressing gratitude for friendship and addressing the sad reality that their loved ones who have died will not return.
It was also a huge honour for me to attend Áras an Uachtarain to present the inaugural Medal of Excellence to President Michael D. Higgins, on behalf of the Centre for Justice and Law Reform which has been established by the Law Society.
Another highlight was supporting the work done by the profession in raising funds for the Calcutta charity and Simon.
The role brought many new and fascinating experiences. In Ireland, it included meetings with senior judiciary and the Attorney General, the Minister for Justice, presenting parchments to newly qualified solicitors, speaking on behalf of the profession, attending so many events and meeting colleagues from all over the country.
Internationally, it was also informative to learn from colleagues from other bar associations, who all face the same challenges including real threats to the rule of law, the implications of AI, the challenges facing younger lawyers.
A massive highlight was working with the incredible team in the Law Society. The role could not be performed without the team – I learned something every day.
What was the most challenging aspect of the role, and how did you overcome it?
The role does mean sacrifices were made by my family and by my colleagues in CKT. I will always be grateful for their support, as well as the understanding that I received from fabulous clients.
The President is provided with excellent office facilities in Blackhall Place, so I used the early morning and free moments to manage my professional work. The silence at night was particularly conducive to good work from 7pm to 11pm! A taxi driver tried to persuade me that the building in Blackhall Place is haunted but, thankfully, I didn’t notice anything unusual! The only disturbance was the flock of seagulls arriving before dawn.
On a lighter note, literally, I that took care regarding eating and drinking – there are lots of events and I avoided excesses for the most part. I was proud to finish the year at the same weight that I held at the start of the year!
You would have travelled regularly in your role. Do you have a favourite trip and why?
The most memorable trip was to Kolkata with 4 wonderful people from the Law Society to see the work being performed by the Hope Foundation. It was uplifting to meet the children who are benefiting from the charity.
If you could sum up your presidency in one word or phrase, what would it be?
It was an incredible privilege and I hope the work undertaken during my year will continue to benefit the profession and the public that we serve.
Impact & Legacy
How do you feel your presidency may have influenced the profession or the Law Society’s direction? And has it differed to what you had hoped when entering the role?
The Law Society is evolving rapidly to meet the changing face of the profession and the demands on the profession. The environment in which the profession operates is also changing rapidly
Part of the Law Society’s strategy is to pro-actively embrace and shape future legislative, regulatory and societal changes. The strategy is based on the long-standing purpose of the Law Society which is to support and shape a just and accessible legal system that works for all, as a foundation for a modern, thriving and progressive society.
The law is not abstract; it is a people business. Practitioners bring expertise and experience, empathy and equity, and they act as counsel in uncertain times. Therefore, promoting excellence in the solicitors’ profession is core to achieving excellence within our legal system to the benefit to everyone in our society.
I hope that I helped support the strategy, so it was a progressive year.
It didn’t differ to what I had hoped might happen, and it’s a relief that there were no major setbacks during the year.
What do you hope will be remembered most about your time as President?
That I was a decent ambassador for the profession.
The Future of Law
What do you see as the biggest challenges and opportunities for the legal profession in the next decade?
The biggest challenges are from external forces that seek to undermine respect for the rule of law. People will not buy into rules in society if they see those rules being abused or ignored, or the rulebook being torn up.
It’s easy to be popular and say that all problems can be solved if only the lawyers would get out of the way and stop progress being made. The role of lawyers is regularly mischaracterised and misrepresented. There are no votes in protecting lawyers, but every member of society has a strong vital interest in a rule based society that is fair and negotiable and where there is access to justice for all.
A major topic at the moment is AI. How do you envisage AI may impact the Law profession?
It is likely that the impact will be radical for those who don’t embrace it. Firms are still working out how best to embrace AI. The firms which will succeed are those who fully embrace AI by making it work for their individual clients. Having AI for the sake of having it is not the solution, making it work for individual clients and functions is what will make the difference.
Leadership & Advice
What did this experience teach you about leadership and collaboration?
I had the privilege of working with leaders in the legal profession from around the world, the professional leadership team within the Law Society, and leaders in the legal world in Ireland.
I never cease to be amazed by the strength of volunteerism.
Every day, I learn something new – I see how colleagues consider and manage difficult issues.
There were learnings that I can bring into my own professional life – there’s no manual that can teach all things, there’s no one size that fits all. A style that works in one instance will not work in another. Through osmosis, I think I have gained insights and skills that I can apply for the benefit of my colleagues and my clients.
What advice would you give to lawyers aspiring to leadership roles within the profession?
There is a huge return on investment. I had the privilege of speaking at the parchment ceremonies when new solicitors are formally admitted to profession. These are among the most enjoyable events of the year – I’ve probably spoken at eight or so parchment ceremonies. Each time, I encourage Solicitors to get involved in the Law Society – they will get a rich return of their investment, they will work with colleagues who are the best in their fields, they will learn from colleagues, they will network and share experience, and opportunities will open for them. It’s very rewarding to be part of a profession which achieves so much for its clients and which, in my view, is critical to the operation of a thriving economy and a fair and just society.