20 June 2019
David Lavery CB confirmed as new Law Society Chief Executive
The
Law Society of Northern Ireland is delighted to announce the
appointment of its new Chief Executive, David Lavery CB. David comes to
the Society with an exceptionally strong record of service in the
justice system, where he is currently Deputy Permanent Secretary and
Director of Access to Justice in the Department of Justice.
He
previously served as Chief Executive of the Northern Ireland Courts and
Tribunals Service between 2001 and 2012. He also served as
Principal Private Secretary to the First Minister from 1998-2001.
Holding
an LL.B from Queen’s University, Belfast and an LL.M from Harvard Law
School, David spent the earlier part of his career in private practice.
He was a Knox Fellow at Harvard and served as an Associate at Harvard’s
Centre for International Affairs. He is also an Eisenhower Fellow and
is currently a Visiting Professor at Ulster University. He was made a
Companion of the Order of the Bath in 2008.
Commenting on this appointment to the Law Society, President Suzanne Rice said:
“I
would like to welcome David to the Society. David has a lifetime of
experience working within the justice system and a deep and special
knowledge of the administration of justice in Northern Ireland.
As
such, he comes to the Society with a strong awareness of current issues
impacting justice in this jurisdiction and we are delighted to announce
his appointment as Chief Executive.
David emerged as the successful
candidate from an exceptionally strong pool of applicants and we are
greatly looking forward to working with him. I know that his wide range
of skills and experience will make a significant contribution to the
leadership of the Society and the profession.”
Ahead of taking up the role, David said:
“I
am very much looking forward to taking up my new role in the Law
Society where I intend to promote the core values and standing of the
solicitor profession within Northern Ireland as well as
internationally.”
David will take up post within the Society on 1st September 2019