Legal executives have called on the Minister for Justice to grant them formal recognition of their role by way of an amendment to the Legal Services Regulation Bill.
The Irish Institute of Legal Executives says its 600 members are employed in private law firms, government departments, semi-State companies and banks. The group is seeking formal recognition of the executives' current legal roles relating to the right of audience in court, which include the right to fix dates, adjourn cases and rule settlements. They also have a right to challenge juries, and can be appointed as Commissioners of Oaths.
During committee stage discussions on the Legal Services Regulation Bill last week, Minister for Justice Alan Shatter said a wider public consultation on legal executives would have to take place before he could consider legislating on the issue.