Monaghan Town's David Leonard Takes Silk, One of Just 17 New Senior Counsel This Year
Monaghan town native and Dublin-based barrister David Leonard has been called to the Inner Bar as a Senior Counsel at the Four Courts, one of 17 barristers given the distinction this year.
By the Monaghan Brief staff·Edited by Seamus McKenna·Published · 2 min read
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Church Square and St Patrick's Church, Monaghan town, 2010. Archive location photograph; not a photo of the events in this story. Jacobethan86 · Public domain. Resized and colour-graded; cropped in layout.
Monaghan town native David Leonard has been appointed Senior Counsel, one of the highest professional distinctions at The Bar of Ireland, Northern Sound reports. The Dublin-based barrister was formally called to the Inner Bar at a ceremony in the Four Courts on 8 October, the Law Library said.
He is one of 17 barristers called to the Inner Bar this year, seven of them women, according to the Law Library. The Bar of Ireland has 2,084 members, including 380 Senior Counsel. The Law Library noted this year's group has links stretching from Monaghan Town to Sligo, Tipperary and Wexford.
What "taking silk" means
The appointment marks the move from Junior Counsel to Senior Counsel, known as "taking silk". It recognises barristers whose standing, experience and expertise equip them for work of particular complexity and importance.
A second local milestone
It follows the appointment of Knockbride, Co Cavan, barrister Séamus Clarke as Chair of the Council of The Bar of Ireland. He gave his first keynote address as Chair at the Opening of the Legal Year celebrations, Northern Sound reported.
"Taking silk is a significant achievement and a mark of the trust placed in these barristers' judgement, expertise and professional integrity," Mr Clarke SC said of this year's new Senior Counsel, in the Law Library's statement.
Sources
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