The Law Society of Northern Ireland held a ceremonial event at Parliament Buildings, Stormont on Tuesday to mark the opening for signature of the new Council of Europe Convention on the Profession of Lawyer, which both the UK and Ireland have signed.

The event also promoted the Law Society’s rule of law pledge, which was first launched last year.

Law Society president Colin Mitchell said: “The Society strongly welcomes the Convention on the Protection of the Profession of Lawyers, which is vitally important in sending a clear message: that lawyers must be free to work without intimidation, harassment, violence or interference.

“The protection of lawyers is not a privilege — it is a necessity.

“Together, the pledge and the Convention form a powerful framework nationally and internationally, reinforcing the shared responsibility to protect lawyers and uphold the rule of law.”

Dame Siobhan Keegan, the lady chief justice of Northern Ireland, formally welcomed guests to the event, underscoring its profound significance for legal professionals across Northern Ireland and beyond.

In a keynote address, justice minister Naomi Long reaffirmed her support for the legal profession and condemned recent instances of threats and harassment directed at solicitors.

Mrs Long said: “As the first elected representative to have signed the pledge, I am pleased to reaffirm my commitment to the legal profession.

“There have been a number of cases recently where solicitors have been victims of harassment and threatening behaviour simply for doing their jobs; this is unacceptable and highlights the importance of this convention.

“At a time when loud and influential voices are setting up a false opposition between the law and the will of the people, or when valuable legal advocacy is misrepresented as politically motivated activism, this is an opportunity for us to take a stand and say again that the rule of law is a principle that we will stand by and defend.

“In doing so we will stand by and defend legal professionals.”

Stewart Dickson MLA made remarks on behalf of the Council of Europe, placing the Convention in its broader international context and commending Northern Ireland’s commitment to legal protections.

The chair of the Northern Ireland Young Solicitors’ Association (NIYSA), Emma Falloon, spoke to highlight the importance of legal protections for emerging professionals and the next generation of lawyers.

The speeches were followed by a formal signing ceremony, marking the official opening of signature of the Convention, accompanied by the signing of the Law Society’s rule of law pledge.