President Loftus is Mayo’s ‘Super Seventh’

Ballina solicitor Rosemarie J Loftus has become the first Mayo woman to be elected as President of the Law Society of Ireland. She also becomes the seventh Mayo solicitor to serve in the prestigious role.

Ms Loftus, who qualified as a solicitor in 1991, is a partner at leading Mayo law firm Bourke, Carrigg & Loftus in Ballina. She becomes the 155th President of the Law Society.

“It is both an honour and privilege to serve as President of the Law Society for the next 12 months, and to be only the seventh woman to do so.

“Recognising the vital role that sole practitioners and smaller firms play in their local communities, and the unique challenges and opportunities they face, I am committed to supporting and advocating for my fellow solicitors to the best of my ability.

“As a proud Mayo woman and solicitor practising in Ballina, I will call on my experiences of working within a smaller community to be a progressive voice, supporting and representing local and rural solicitors across the country,” said Ms Loftus.

The proud Mayo and Ballina woman comes from a family immersed in the law.

She has worked for her family firm since the outset, a firm stepped in rich history.

Founded in 1860 by Robert Paget Bourke, Ms Loftus’ grandfather Patrick J Loftus took over the firm in 1929 and the family lineage in the practice continues to this day, her brother Marc Loftus and her cousin Peter Loftus practicing with her.

“The saying “the Law runs through your veins” probably has some degree of truth in it, for out of our family of six children, four qualified as solicitors, my sisters Cliona and Barbara, my brother Marc and I, and now stretching to the fourth generation, with my nephew Cian Kiely, getting his Parchment recently,” said Ms Loftus.

Ms Loftus received expert tutelage from her late father Leo J. Loftus who would be so proud to see his daughter attain the position of Law Society President.

“His love of the Law was so great, that he attended the office each day up until he was 80 years old. Sadly, he passed away five years ago, yet still today, he is ever omnipresent in the office, watching out for me daily,” she commented.

Ms Loftus is just the seventh woman President of the Society. She stated she was immensely proud to follow in the footsteps of the trailblazers who came before her.

“This honour and privilege is never to be underestimated, and I know the responsibility that I now hold and will bear and do commit to give it my very best and always to the best of my ability.” 

Ms Loftus’ goals for the year ahead are diverse and wide-ranging. As a Mayo-based solicitor the future of rural practices is among her core concerns.

“I will seek to shine a light on rural practice and the trials and tribulations that they face, given our changing legal landscape on this Island. In particular, there must be a greater focus on the concept now known as ‘Legal Deserts’, which quite frankly, is a fast-approaching reality in so many of our rural communities. With encountered difficulties of an ever-growing decline in legal services, stagnation of attraction of trainees to rural areas, admin and staff shortages, rising costs, lack of effective mergers or succession in Practice, its consequence is failure and decline of access to justice in rural Ireland,” said Ms Loftus.

She said rural practices must continue to stay alive and be a “beating heart” and voice for their communities.

Ms Loftus stated “I look forward to the year ahead and am more than proud to be given this immense privilege to lead, for the betterment of the public and legal profession.”