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Stand for Council in 2025: Get Involved and Make a Difference
The election to the Society’s governing Council happens every three years.
This autumn, members from across Northern Ireland will have the opportunity to stand as candidates and the newly elected Council will serve from November 2025 until the end of November 2028. We’ll be publishing more information about how to nominate, stand and vote later in the year.
You can read more about eligibility criteria in the Society’s Bye-Laws available here.
So, why get involved?
Standing for election might not be something that’s ever crossed your mind. But, if you’re interested in supporting your profession, championing the issues that matter the most and developing your leadership and boardroom skills, joining Council could be for you.
As a Council member, you’ll have a unique opportunity to act as the voice of your profession, help shape the Society’s strategy and provide invaluable support to members.
A leadership that reflects you
Our members should see themselves reflected in our leadership at Council level. Greater diversity within the Council is about diversity of thought and experience as well as the legally protected characteristics.
It’s vital that members are drawn from the widest possible talent pool, bringing with them a broad range of professional and life experiences, ideas and perspectives to enhance our decision-making.
Since 2000, around 60% of newly admitted solicitors have been women. Although Northern Ireland now has a female Chief Justice and Attorney General, women are still underrepresented in the senior ranks of the private practising profession.
There have been 10 female Presidents of the Law Society and currently 40% of our current Council members are female.
Through our published Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) strategy commitments and our ongoing work with Diversity Mark, we’re committed to enhancing the representational role of female solicitors. We strongly encourage more women to get involved and consider standing for election this year. Claire McAleer, chair of the Women’s Network, sums it up as follows:
‘As Ruth Bader Ginsburg said, “Women belong in all places where decisions are being made.” The creation of the Women’s Network this year is a great step forward in addressing the issues women solicitors face in the profession. However, if the solicitor profession in Northern Ireland is to be a space where women can, not just remain in practice, but thrive in practice, we need women’s voices at the decision-making level. I hope to see some of the fantastic women solicitors we have here being elected to Council this year. If nothing changes, nothing changes.’
Supporting flexibility
Council is made up of 30 members, all of whom are practising solicitors who serve on a voluntary basis.
Members who spare their time to serve on Council and Committees are key to our governance and decision-making structures.
We understand that this is a time commitment and something that members do on a voluntary basis. However, we aim to support flexibility through our working arrangements, enabling members to fit this around already busy schedules. Council and Committee meetings are held both in-person and online, meaning less travel and easier attendance. You can also choose to get involved and champion the work of committees or other groups that best suit your interests and expertise.
New members will also have access to induction and training to help settle into the role, mentorship and advice from more experienced members and governance support from Society staff.
Use your vote
Council elections are also an opportunity to decide who should represent you and we’re encouraging all members to use their votes this year.
