Law Society of Ireland Younger Members Conference Sponsored by Hunter Savage

Hunter Savage Proud to Sponsor the Law Society of Ireland Younger Members Committee Conference 2026

Hunter Savage is delighted to once again sponsor the Law Society of Ireland Younger Members Committee Conference, taking place on Wednesday 9 September 2026 at the Imperial Hotel, Cork.

This year’s conference, “Future Practice: The Younger Member’s Roadmap”, will bring together members of the legal profession to explore the issues, opportunities and decisions shaping the careers of Ireland’s next generation of solicitors.

Running from 4.00pm to 6.00pm, the event is particularly relevant for solicitors in the earlier stages of their careers, trainees approaching qualification, and solicitors with responsibility for managing, mentoring or developing junior lawyers.

The Irish legal profession continues to evolve at pace. Changes in legislation, technology, client expectations, working practices and the wider economic environment are all influencing what law firms and legal teams need from their people.

At the same time, the expectations of legal professionals themselves are changing.

For those beginning or developing their careers, decisions are no longer necessarily based on salary or job title alone. The quality of training, exposure to meaningful work, progression opportunities, flexibility, organisational culture, leadership and long-term career prospects can all play an important role.

For employers, this creates both opportunities and challenges. Attracting talented lawyers is only one part of the equation; firms and organisations also need to consider how they develop, engage and retain their people as their careers progress.

Events such as the Younger Members Committee Conference create an important forum for these conversations, giving those at different stages of the profession the opportunity to learn from one another and consider how legal careers may continue to evolve.

Insights from across the profession

The 2026 conference brings together an excellent panel of speakers with experience spanning private practice, public sector law, regulation, the courts and legal recruitment.

Speakers include:

• Fiona McNulty, Partner, Mason Hayes & Curran LLP
• Caroline Looney, Principal Solicitor, Public Procurement, CSSO
• Clare O'Shea O'Neill, Cork County Registrar
• Sorcha Hayes, Head of Practice Regulation, Law Society of Ireland
• Cailim Boyle, Director, Hunter Savage

Together, the panel will offer different perspectives on the realities of building a successful career in law and the issues younger members of the profession should be considering as they plan their next steps.

As part of the conference, Cailim Boyle, Director at Hunter Savage, will share his perspective on the Irish legal recruitment market and the factors currently influencing both career decisions and hiring.

Through his work with legal professionals, law firms and in-house legal teams, Cailim has first-hand insight into the questions candidates are asking about their careers and the priorities employers are considering when competing for legal talent.

For younger lawyers in particular, understanding the wider employment market can be valuable when making decisions about qualification, specialisation, moving firms, considering an in-house opportunity or taking the next step towards a more senior position.

Career development rarely follows exactly the same route for everyone. Having access to informed market insight can help solicitors understand their options, assess opportunities in context and make decisions that support their longer-term ambitions rather than simply focusing on the next role.

At Hunter Savage, we are proud to continue supporting initiatives that encourage professional development, knowledge sharing and stronger connections across the legal community.

Our specialist Legal Recruitment team works with solicitors and legal professionals throughout Ireland at every stage of their careers, from newly qualified solicitors considering their first post-qualification move through to senior associates, partners, general counsel and other senior legal appointments.

That gives us a valuable view of how the market is developing and, importantly, what both candidates and employers are looking for from one another.

Our continued sponsorship of the Law Society of Ireland Younger Members Committee Conference reflects our commitment to being an active part of that wider legal community, rather than simply engaging with professionals when they are actively looking for a new role.

If you are planning your CPD, approaching qualification, considering the next stage of your legal career or responsible for mentoring and developing junior lawyers, “Future Practice: The Younger Member’s Roadmap” promises to be a valuable afternoon of discussion and insight.

Event details

Date: Wednesday 9 September 2026
Time: 4.00pm–6.00pm
Venue: Imperial Hotel, Cork
Event: Law Society of Ireland Younger Members Committee Conference 2026 – Future Practice: The Younger Member’s Roadmap

We look forward to joining the Law Society of Ireland, the Younger Members Committee, our fellow speakers and members of the profession in Cork – and to seeing many familiar faces on the day.

Book your place: Law Society of Ireland Younger Members Committee Conference

If you would like to discuss the legal recruitment market, your next career move or hiring within your legal team, contact Cailim Boyle and the Hunter Savage Legal team for a confidential discussion.