The President of the Law Society of Northern Ireland, Mark Borland, has said that no solicitor or their staff should have to deal with unacceptable behaviour, harassment, or intimidation in carrying out their professional role.
“Intimidation directed at solicitors and their staff is on the increase, and the impact of this on their health and wellbeing is concerning," said The President.
A survey recently conducted by the Society found that 66% of 480 respondents had been subjected to some form of threat or abuse in the course of their work.
The Society, which represents solicitors in Northern Ireland, issued the survey to its members in February 2026 in response to increasing reports of attacks experienced by solicitors while carrying out their professional duties.
The impact of the threats and attacks on solicitors has been significant, with 58% of respondents highlighting that it had a negative impact on their wellbeing, with many reporting stress and anxiety.
The Society has established a Solicitor Safety Group, aimed at driving real change, and has engaged directly with Justice Minister Naomi Long, requesting legislative reform to recognise solicitors as frontline workers and making attacks against them a statutory aggravating factor in sentencing.
In addition, the Society has pressed for the introduction of a statutory presumption against the use of suspended sentences in cases where an officer of the court is the victim of an attack.
Over the course of the last year the Society has also engaged widely with justice stakeholders, which has led to the creation of a Lawyer Safety Liaison Group consisting of representatives from the PSNI, PPS, NICTS and others, aimed at supporting a co-ordinated response to threats and attacks.
Responding to the survey results, the Law Society has this week launched a Solicitor Safety Toolkit, which provides a practical guide to managing personal safety risks at work, home and in other locations.
The Toolkit outlines how to identify risks, respond to threats and access support if incidents occur. It is designed for use by firms, individual solicitors, and support staff.
